Ex-Libris 
FRANKEARLEHAYW5VRD 


Book 


•worm 


ORK 


AND    VICINITY 

cO&A  DURING 

'HE  I AR  OF  1812-'15, 


A   MILITARY,    CIVIC   AND   FINANCIAL 

%ocal  Ibistor^  of  that  penob, 

WITH 

INCIDENTS  AND  ANECDOTES  THEREOF, 

AND 

A  DESCRIPTION    OF   THE    FORTS,    FORTIFICATIONS,    ARSENALS,    DE 
FENCES  AND   CAMPS  IN  AND  ABOUT  NEW   YORK   CITY   AND 
HARBOR,    AND    ^HOSE    AT   HARLEM    AND    ON  EAST 
RIVER,  AND   IN  BROOKLYN,   AND   ON   LONG 
ISLAND  AND  STATEN  ISLAND,  AND 
AT      SANDY      HOOK      AND 
JERSEY     CITY. 
WITH 

An  Account  of  the  Citizens'  Movements,  and  of  the  Military 

and  Naval  Officers,  Regiments,  Companies, 

etc.,  in  service  there. 

BY 

R.  S.  GUERNSEY, 

Author  of  Mechanics'1  Lien  Laws  Relating  to  New  York  City,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 


.    I. 


NEW  YORK: 
CHARLES  L.  WOODWARD,  BOOKSELLER, 

78  NASSAU  STREET. 
1889. 


ENTERED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  of  CONGRESS  IN  THE  YEAR 
EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED  AND  EIGHTY-NINE, 

BY  R.  S.  GUERNSEY, 

IN  THE   OFFICE  OF   THE  LIBRARIAN   OF   CONGRESS  AT 
WASHINGTON. 


LIMITED  EDITION.    NOT  STEREOTYPED. 


No.  I 


OIBB   BROS.  A    MORAN,   PRINTERS, 
67  ROSE  ST..  NEW  YORK. 


NEW  YORK  CITY-1N  COMMON  COUNCIL. 


The  following  preamble  and  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted  by  the  Board  of  Aldermen  on  the  7th  April,  1896,  as 
reported  by  the  Commitee  on  County  Affairs  : 

WHEREAS,  Our  respected  and  public-spirited  fellow  citizen, 
Mr.  Rocellus  S.  Guernsey,  has  completed  and  published  his 
work,  entitled,  «»  New  York  City  and  Vicinity  During  the  War 
''0/1812-15 — being  a  Military,  Civic  and  Financial  Local  His- 
"tory  of  that  Period,"  consisting  of  two  volumes  of  nearly 
eleven  hundred  pages  of  closely  printed  matter,  and  has  pre 
sented  a  copy  of  the  same  to  the  New  York  City  Library,  and 

WHEREAS,  The  said  work  being  the  result  of  many  years' 
labor  and  research  by  the  writer  in  collecting  and  preserving 
records,  many  of  which  were  scattered  and  in  obscure  places, 
and  were  unknown  and  inaccessible  to  those  who  may  be  much 
interested  in  them,  and 

WHEREAS,  Said  work  appears  to  contain  very  fully  the  official 
action  of  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  of  New  York  during 
that  eventful  period,  relating  to  the  War  of  1812,  and  also  con 
tains  many  Military  Orders,  Regulations  and  Proceedings,  par 
ticularly  relating  to  this  city  during  that  time,  never  before 
printed  and  not  before  in  the  archives  of  this  city,  although 
pertaining  thereto  Now,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  said  work  by  Mr.  Rocellus  S.  Guernsey, 
entitled  "New  York  City  and  Vicinity  During  the  War  of 
1812-15,"  be  placed  among  the  Official  Archives  of  the  Common 
Council  of  New  York  City,  and  that  the  thanks  of  the  Common 
Council  of  this  city  be  expressed  to  said  Rocellus  S.  Guernsey 
for  the  care,  industry  and  research  bestowed  by  him  upon  said 
valuable  work,  and  that  a  copy  of  this  resolution  be  presented 
to  him  under  the  official  seal  of  this  Body  and  that  a  commit 
tee  be  appointed  to  present  the  same  to  said  Guernsey. 

WILLIAM   H.  TEN  EYCK, 
JOHN  JEROLOMAN,  Clerk. 

President.  [SEAL  ] 

JOHN  P.  WINDOLPH, 

Vice-President . 


- 


INTRODUCTION. 


NEW  YORK  CITY,  Nov.  25,  1889. 

A  summary  of  part  of  this  work  was  read  on  the  6th  of  March; 
1888,  before  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  and  on  the  13th  oi 
December  following,  a  paper  by  the  author  on  "The  Fortifica 
tions  of  New  York  City  and  Harbor  in  the  War  of  1812-15,"  was 
read  before  the  United  States  Military  Service  Institution  (Gov 
ernor's  Island,  N.  Y.).  This  latter  paper  is  incorporated  in  this 
work  with  much  other  matter  relating'  to  that  subject  which 
was  necessarily  omitted  on  that  occasion. 

The  information  and  data  here  presented  were  obtained  from 
official  sources  and  records,  many  of  which  were  never  published, 
and  from  the  current  literature  published  during  the  period  to 
which  it  relates. 

The  author  has  also  derived  much  information,  personally,  from 
veterans  and  others  who  resided  in  New  York  during  that  period, 
and  from  their  sons  and  daughters. 

The  narrative  of  events  and  circumstances  are  related  as  they 
actually  occurred.  Whether  they  are  interesting*  or  otherwise 
will  depend  upon  the  spirit  of  the  reader. 

This  work  could  not  have  been  written  without  access  to  and 
use  of  the  following  named  collections  and  records: 

New  York  Historical  Society, 

New  York  Society  Library, 

New  York  Adjutant-General's  Records, 

New  Jersey  Adjutant-General's  Records, 

New  York  Secretary  of  State  Records, 

New  York  State  Library, 

United  States  War  Department  Records, 

United  States  Treasury  Department  Records. 

United  States  Military  Service  Institution  Library, 

New  York  City  Common  Council  Records, 

Private  Collections. 

The  deprivation  of  the  use  of  any  one  of  the  above  collections 
would  have  been  a  missing  link  that  could  not  have  been  sup 
plied  by  any  one  or  all  others  of  the  above  named  sources  of  in- 


IV  INTRODUCTION. 


formation.  Many  other  libraries  and  collections  were  resorted 
to,  but  their  value  was  not  exclusive,  but  could!  be  supplied  by 
others  that  contained  like  information. 

The  writer  has  derived  great  pleasure  for  many  years  in  at 
tempting  to  make  this  work  a  reliable  and  permanent  contribu 
tion  to  historical  literature,  and  in  aiding  in  the  preservation  and 
bringing  from  obscurity  many  details  that  belong  to  that  period, 
and  in  making  a  faithful  chronicle  of  the  local  events  of  that 
time.  The  social,  political  and  financial  condition  of  the  inhab 
itants  are  also  stated  as  part  and  parcel  of  the  plan. 

If  errors  in  the  statements  have  been  made  by  the  writer  they 
will  be  corrected  in  a  supplement  or  addenda  which  will  be  here 
after  issued,  if  necessary,  by  the  author.  Any  information  that 
may  lead  to  the  discovery  of  errors  will  be  thankfully  received. 

If  history  is  entitled  to  be  regarded  as  a  science  it  must  con 
tain  details  properly  selected.  The  demands  of  modern  science 
are  for  details.  Vague  generalities  may  suit  popular  readers, 
but  they  will  not  satisfy  the  requirements  of  science  nor  stand 
the  test  of  time.  Writers  of  history  should  observe  this  if  they 
desire  their  works  to  be  permanent. 

If  history  is  of  any  value  as  an  example,  the  more  detail  given 
the  more  valuable  it  may  become. 

To  many,  history  will  ever  be  regarded  as  possessing  all  the 
charms  of  poetry,  but  faith  in  its  truth  must  be  implicit  or  the 
charm  will  be  broken.  To  these,  historic  truths  are  as  sacred 
as  the  truths  of  holy  writ. 

Whatever  view  is  taken  of  it,  all  must  acknowledge  that 

"  History  hallows  every  place  in  which  it  moves; 
It  breathes  around  localities  an  odor 
More  exquisite  than  the  perfume  of  the  rose, 
And  sheds  over  them  a  hue 
More  magical  than  the  blush  of  morning." 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.— Announcement  of  the  Declaration  of  War— Gen. 
Bloomfield  in  command  at  New  York — Com.  Rodgers'  Squad 
ron  Sails — Chasing  the  Enemy — Action  of  City  Council — 
Committee  of  Defense — Capt.  Porter  and  the  Essex — "  Free 
Trade  and  Sailors'  Rights,"  pp.  1-9. 

CHAPTER  II.— War  Meeting  in  City  Hall  Park— Address  and 
Resolutions  adopted — Col.  Henry  Rutgers — Lack  of  General 
Approval  of  the  War — Petition  for  Embargo— Jacob  Barker — 
Tammanj7  Society  and  the  War — Veterans  of  the  Revolution 
ary  War  in  Arms — Action  of  City  Officials— Mayor  Clinton's 
Charge  to  the  Grand  Jury — Riots  Feared — Peace  Officers  ap 
pointed — Presidential  Election,  pp.  10-28. 

CHAPTER  III. — The  city  in  Peace — Population  and  Occupation 
— Public  Buildings— Free  Colored  and  Slaves — Aliens — Voters 
— Dwellings — Commerce  and  Manufactures — Auctions— Busi 
ness  Habits — Home  Comforts — How  they  Lived  then  and  How 
they  Died — Number  and  Causes  of  Deaths  in  each  year — 
Amusements — Theatres — Dancing — Dress — Streets  —  Roads  — 
Stages — Ferries — Suburbs  :  Harlem,  Brooklyn,  Jersey  City, 
Hoboken,  pp.  29-59. 

CHAPTER  IV.— The  Fortifications  of  New  York  City  and  Har 
bor — State  Appropriations  for  Forts,  Arsenals,  etc. — Condition 
of  Harbor  Defenses — British  War  Vessels — Means  of  Defense, 
pp.  60-83. 

CHAPTER  V. — City  Militia  Forces — Detachments  Requested  by 
the  President  and  Organized  by  Gov.  Tompkins — Assignment 
of  Officers — Powers  of  the  Governor— Orders  and  Regulations 
— United  States  Troops  in  the  Harbor — New  Jersey  Militia  for 
Defense  of  New  York,  pp.  84-103. 

CHAPTER  VI.— Gov.  Tompkins  Removes  his  Military  Head 
quarters  to  New  York  City — Orders  the  Brigadier-Generals 
to  Furnish  Detached  Militia  for  Service  on  the  Requisition  of 


VI  CONTENTS. 


Gen.  Bloomfield — Major-General  Stevens  authorized  to  Call 
Out  the  Brigade  of  Artillery  in  Case  of  Invasion— Sketch 
of  Gen.  Stevens  —  Artillery  Target  Practice  —  Incidents  — 
Drafted  Militia  from  the  City — Volunteers  from  Hudson 
River  Counties,  New  York  City,  Brooklyn,  and  New  Jersey — 
Deserter  Sentenced  to  be  Shot — Militia  Stationed  at  Ap 
proaches  to  New  York  City,  pp.  104-119. 

CHAPTER  VII.— Blockade  at  Sandy  Hook— British  License  to 
Merchant  Vessels — Privateering  from  New  York — The  Gen. 
Armstrong — Letters  of  Marque  Vessels— American  Privateers 
and  Their  Prizes  in  French  Ports — Shipbuilders  of  New  York — 
First  Victory  at  Sea — City  Council  Honors  Capt.  Hull — Other 
Naval  Victories,  pp.  120-133. 

CHAPTER  VIII.— Evacuation  Day  Celebration— Military  Pa 
rade  and  Review — Salutes  from  the  Forts — Dinners  at  the 
City  Hall  and  at  Other  Places  by  Societies,  etc. — Military 
Dinner  given  by  Third  Regiment;  Present,  Gov.  Tompkins, 
Gen.  Armstrong,  Gen.  Morton,  and  Other  Notables — Toasts 
and  Music — Campaign  ended,  Militia  Discharged  and  Return 
Home,  pp.  134-142. 

CHAPTER  IX.— Honors  to  Naval  Heroes— Resolutions  of  the 
Common  Council — The  Great  Naval  Dinner  to  Decatur,  Hull 
and  Jones — Significant  Toasts,  Songs  and  Music — Naval  Ball — 
Holiday  Festivities — The  Macedonian — Dinner  to  Sailors  and 
Entertainment  at  the  Theatre,  pp.  143-165. 

CHAPTER  X.— British  War  Vessels  off  Sandy  Hook— The  En 
emy  Approaching — Alarm  Signals — Volunteering  in  New  York 
City — Forces  Necessary  for  Defense — New  Jersey  Helping 
New  York — False  Alarm — Gunboats  to  Defend  the  Harbor — 
Common  Council  makes  Appropriation  for  Further  Defense — 
Fortifications  Erected  during  the  year  1812 — Defenses  at  San 
dy  Hook — Condition  of  Fortifications — Gen.  George  Izard 
in  Command  at  New  York — Sketch  of  Gen.  Izard — Breast 
works  around  the  Battery,  pp.  166-186. 

CHAPTER  XL— Re-election  of  Mr.  Madison— Prospects  of  the 
War  at  Home  and  Abroad — Preparing  for  the  Campaign  of 
1813 — United  States  Army  Regulations — Equipments,  Uni 
form,  etc. — Volunteers  and  Militia,  Tactics,  etc.  pp.  187-203. 


CONTENTS.  Vll 


CHAPTER  XII.— De  Witt  Clinton  Re-appointed  Mayor— Com- 
mon  Council  honoring  Commodore  Bainbridge — Arrival  of  the 
Hornet,  Capt.  Lawrence  and  prisoners  from  the  Peacock — Hon 
oring  Capt.  Lawrence — Dinner  to  his  Crew — Privateer  Gen. 
Armstrong — Gen.  Moreau,  pp.  204-211. 

CHAPTER  XIII. —The  Enemy  off  Sandy  Hook— Steamboats  in 
the  Harbor — Militia  to  Defend  the  City — Works  at  the  Battery 
Parade — Gen.  Swift  in  Command  on  Staten  Island — Ship 
owners'  Association — Skirmish  at  Sandy  Hook — Common 
Council's  Petition  to  Congress — Blockade  of  the  Port — All 
the  City  Regiments  in  Arms — Parade  and  Sham  Fight — Polit 
ical  Court  Martial,  pp.  212-236. 

CHAPTER  XIV.— Celebrating  Fourth  of  July— Troubles  in 
Tammany — Political  Party  Feeling  displayed — Grand  Pro 
cessions — Eloquent  Orations — Dinners  and  Toasts — Amuse 
ments  of  the  Day  and  Evening — Incidents — Display  of  Fire 
works  at  Vauxhall  Garden — An  Enemy's  Funeral,  pp.  237- 
272. 

CHAPTER  XV.— Com.  Decatur  driven  into  New  London  by 
Com.  Hardy — Sketch  of  Com.  Hardy — Gardiner's  Bay  and 
Eastern  Part  of  Long  Island  in  Possession  of  the  Enemy — Tor 
pedo  Warfare — Trapping  the  Enemy — Naval  Affairs — Com. 
Hardy's  Threats — Joshua  Penney  taken  by  him — Enemv  near 
the  City  in  PelhamBay — Com.  Lfwis  Drives  them  Back — En 
emy  at  Sandy  Hook  and  Rockaway — Com.  Lewis  after  them 
again,  pp.  273-303. 

CHAPTER  XVI.— The  City  in  Mourning— Funeral  of  Capt.  Law 
rence  and  Lieut.  Ludlow — Perry's  Victory  on  Lake  Erie  and 
Gen.  Harrison's  Victory  over  the  Indians — Great  Rejoicing — 
Public  and  Private  Buildings  Illuminated — Effect  of  these 
Victories— British  Boasting,  pp.  304-323. 

CHAPTER  XVII.— Major-Gen.  Dearborn  Placed  in  Command  at 
New  York — Sketch  of  Gen.  Dearborn — British  War  Vessels 
about  Sandy  Hook — Target  Practice  by  Artillery — Gunboat 
Skirmish — Close  of  the  Campaign  of  1813 — Last  Military 
Parade  of  the  Season — Sketch  of  Gen.  Morton — Evacuation 

|    Day  ^Celebration — Troops  in  Service,  pp.  324-344. 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XVIII.— National  Financial  Condition— Issue  of 
Treasury  Notes — Taken  by  New  York  Banks — Names  of  City 
Subscribers  to  National  Loans — National  Direct  Taxes — City 
Revenue  and  Taxation — National  Internal  Re  venue  in  _the  City 
— State  Taxation — The  Financial  Outlook,  pp.  345-358. 

CHAPTER  XIX.— Arrival  of  Major-Gen.  Harrison— Coldly 
Treated  by  City  Officials— Causes— Attends  the  Theatres— Pub 
lic  Dinner  to  Gen.  Harrison  at  Tammany  Hall — Toasts — Pres 
entation  to  Commodore  Baiubridge  and  Dinner  to  him  by  the 
Federalists— Dinner  to  Commodore  Perry,  pp.  359-380. 

CHAPTER  XX.— The  Enemy  at  Sandy  Hook— Cannonade  of 
Long  Branch  Village — Shipping  and  Trade  in  the  City — Priv 
ateer  Owners  petition  Congress — Laws  for  their  Benefit — The 
Enemy's  War  Vessels  near  by — Licensed  Vessels  made  subject 
to  Capture — The  Non-importation  Laws — Resolutions  by  New 
York  Merchants — Blockade  Extended — Coasting  Trade — 
Smuggling — Inland  Transportation,  pp.  381-404. 

CHAPTER  XXI.— Meeting  of  Congress— The  President's  Mes 
sage  Unsatisfactory — Secret  Message  to  Cong'ress — Circum 
stances  Calling'  for  Immediate  Legislation — Remedies  Sug 
gested—Embargo  Laws  Enacted— Effect  on  Neutral  Vessels — 
/  Rigid  Rules  for  Internal  Transportation — Effect  upon  New 
York  City — The  Port  Closed— Restricted  Means  of  Obtaining 
Supplies,  pp.  405-415. 

APPENDIX  OF  NOTES,  pp.  417-449. 
INDEX  OF  NAMES  (temporary). 
INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS  (temporary). 


CHAPTER  I. 

Announcement  of  the  Declaration  of  War— Gen.  Bloomfield  in  Com 
mand  at  New  York — Com.  Rodgers'  Squadron  sails — Chasing  the 
Enemy — Action  of  City  Council — Committee  of  Defence — Capt. 
Porter  and  the  JSttsex — "Free  Trade  and  Sailors'  Rights." 

N  the  morning  of  June  20,  1812, 
at  about  nine  o'clock,  news  from 
Washington  was  received  by  mail 
in  New  York  City  that  war  had 
been  declared  by  the  United  States 
against  Great  Britain  on  the  18th. 
An  extra  of  the  National  Intelli 
gencer,  published  at  Washington, 
was  issued  about  four  o'clock  on  the  18th  of  June, 
making  the  announcement,  and  was  in  the  morning 
mail  that  arrived  in  New  York  City.  This  news 
was  confirmed  by  a  bulletin  issued  by  Gen.  Bloom- 
field,  at  his  headquarters  in  the  fort  off  the  Battery 
(now  Castle  Garden)  in  the  city,  at  about  half -past 
nine  o'clock  A.M.,  who  was  then  in  command  of  the 
fortifications  in  New  York  City  and  Harbor.  It 
was  as  follows : 

"  GENERAL  ORDERS. 

"General  Bloomfield  announces  to  the  troops  that 
war  is  declared  by  the  United  States  against  Great 
Britain. 

By  order, 

"R.  H.  McPHERSON,  A.D.C." 


PROCLAMATION   OF   WAR. 


This  was  the  first  military  announcement  to 
troops  of  the  declaration  of  that  war.  * 

Private  messengers  passed  through  New  York 
about  ten  A.M.  for  the  northern  frontier  and  for 
Boston,  with  the  newspaper  announcement.  The 
President's  proclamation  of  war  was  not  issued 
unti]  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  June.  It  was  pre 
viously  known  that  the  bill  had  passed  the  House 
of  Eepresentatives  some  days  before,  about  June 
4,  and  was  in  the  Senate  for  several  days.  The 
President's  message  and  the  debates  on  the  bill 
were  in  secret  session.  The  injunction  of  secrecy 
was  removed  at  three  P.M.  on  the  18th  of  June,  and 
the  proceedings  immediately  became  known  in 

*  JOSEPH  BLOOMFIELD  was  then  governor  of  New  Jersey  and  also 
chancellor,  which  offices  he  had  held  by  .annual  election  from  1801 
to  October,  1812,  when  he  resigned  to  attend  to  his  military  duties  on 
the  northern  frontier  of  New  York.  He  was  born  in  1755,  and  was 
a  fine-looking  man,  wore  a  cocked  hat,  his  hair  powdered  and  queue, 
and  knee  breeches,  and  white  top  boots;  was  dignified  and  cour 
teous.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the  Revolution ;  was  commissioned  as 
captain  in  Third  New  Jersey  in  February,  1776;  had  command  of 
the  body-guard  of  Gen.  Schuyler  at  Fort  Stanwix,  N.  Y.,  in  July, 
1776;  was  judge  advocate  of  the  Northern  army  at  Ticon- 
deroga  until  December  25,  1776,  when  he  left  for  New  Jersey, 
and  was  shortly  after  promoted  to  major  of  the  Third  Regi 
ment  of  New  Jersey;  was  at  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine  and 
Monmouth,  resigned  in  1778;  in  1783  was  elected  attorney -general 
of  the  State;  was  a  general  of  militia  in  1794,  and  took  the  field  as 
commander  of  a  brigade  of  militia  called  into  service  to  quell  the 
Whisky  Rebellion  in  Pennsylvania;  was  made  brigadier-general  in 
U.  S.  Army,  27th  March,  1812,  and  took  command  at  New  York 
City  and  Harbor  by  order  dated  June  8,  1812;  held  that  post  until 
relieved  by  Gen.  Armstrong  in  August,  1812.  He  resigned  his 
offices  of  governor  and  chancellor  of  New  Jersey  in  the  fall  of  1812, 
and  marched  with  his  brigade  to  Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
at  the  capture  of  York  (now  Toronto)  in  1813;  was  one  of  the  mili 
tary  court  that  tried  Gen.  Hull  in  1814  for  treason  for  surrendering 
Detroit  in  1812;  was  soon  after  withdrawn  from  active  service  and 
assigned  to  command  the  Fourth  Military  District,  with  headquarters 
at  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  until  end  of  the  war;  was  also 
one  of  the  court  convened  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  January,  1815,  for  the 
court-martial  of  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Was  member  of  Congress  from 
March  4,  1817,  to  March  4,  1821.  Died  in  1825,  aged  70  years. 


UNITED  STATES  NAVAL 


Washington.  The  news  of  the  declaration  of  war 
was  not  known  in  New  York  City  until  forty-two 
and  one-half  hours  afterwards,  on  Saturday  morn 
ing.  The  mail  route  was  by  land,  240  miles;  the 
most  rapid  express  was  thirty- six  hours  from  Wash 
ington  to  New  York  City. 

The  news  of  the  war  was  not  received  in  time 
to  be  in  the  New  York  morning  papers,  and  no 
extra  was  issued.  It  rapidly  spread  among  the 
people,  however,  and  the  afternoon  papers  briefly 
announced  the  fact  without  comment. 

At  that  time  there  were  in  the  port  of  New  York 
the  most  effective  part  of  the  United  States  Navy  : 
the  President,  44  guns,  Commodore  Rodgers,  com 
mander;  Essex,  32,  Capt.  Porter ;  Hornet,  18,  Capt, 
Lawrence.  During  the  day  were  added,  but  remain 
ed  at  Sandy  Hook,  the  United  States,  44,  Capt.  De- 
catur;  Congress,  38,  Capt.  Smith  ;  the  Argus,  16, 
Capt.  Crane— all  ready  to  sail  on  short  notice, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Essex,  which  was  os 
tensibly  repairing  her  rigging  and  restoring  her 
hold. 

When  Commodore  Eodgers  heard  the  news  he  call 
ed  his  men  together  on  Saturday,  and  told  them  of  the 
declaration  of  war,  and  addressed  them,  offering  to 
pay  the  wages  of  any  who  were  not  willing  to  take 
part  in  the  war.  A  general  huzza  followed,  and 
signified  that  all  were  willing  to  stand  by  the  com 
modore.  The  next  day,  Sunday  morning,  about 
nine  o'clock,  Commodore  Rodgers  received  official 
orders  from  Washington  putting  him  in  command 
of  the  squadron,  and  orders  to  get  under  way  at 
once.  This  was  the  first  official  news  of  the  war 
issued  from  the  War  Department  at  Washington. 


SQUADRON  SAILS. 


A  midshipman  on  board  the  Hornet,  in  his  diary 
says :— 

"SUNDAY — This  morning  the  declaration  of  war 
by  the  United  States  against  Great  Britain  was 
read.  ...  At  ten  o'clock  A.M.  Commodore 
Rodger s  hove  out  the  signal  to  weigh  ;  never  was 
anchor  to  the  cathead  sooner,  nor  topsail  sheeted  to 
the  masthead  with  more  dispatch,  than  upon  the 
present  occasion.  The  smallest  boy  on  board 
seemed  anxious  to  meet  what  is  now  looked  upon 
as  the  common  tyrant  of  the  ocean,  for  they  had 
heard  the  woful  tales  of  the  older  tars. 
When  the  ship  was  under  way,  Capt.  Lawrence  had 
the  crew  called  to  their  quarters,  and  told  them  if 
there  were  any  amongst  them  who  were  disaffected, 
or  one  that  had  not  rather  sink  than  surrender  to 
the  enemy,  with  gun  for  gun,  that  he  should  be,  im 
mediately  and  uninjured,  landed  and  sent  back  in 
the  pilot  boat.  The  reply  was,  fore  and  aft,  '  Not 
one. ' ' 

The  like  enthusiasm  and  bravery  prevailed  on 
board  the  entire  squadron. 

The  anchors  were  heaved,  and  with  the  stars  and 
stripes  vigorously  flying  at  the  masthead  of  each, 
led  by  Commodore  Rodgers'  vessel,  the  President, 
they  sailed  down  the  bay  in  search  of  the  enemy.* 

This  was  the  first  " letting  slip  the  dogs  of  war" 
against  Great  Britain  in  the  war  of  1812.  With 
this  spirit  did  the  young  nation,  like  David,  sally 
forth  to  meet  the  Goliath  of  the  ocean. 


*  The  United  States  flag  of  the  war  of  1812  was  not  the  flag  of  to 
day.  It  then  consisted  of  fifteen  stars  and  fifteen  stripes,  although 
at  that  time  there  were  eighteen  States  in  the  Union,  Louisiana  hav 
ing  been  admitted  on  the  8th  day  of  April,  1812. 


CHASING  BRITISH 


At  about  five  o'clock  P.M.  the  commodore  passed 
the  light-house  off  Sandy  Hook,  and  joined  those 
there,  and  all  proceeded  to  sea,  having  under  his 
command  the  frigates  President,  420  men;  United 
States,  410  men  ;  and  Congress,  400  men,  and  the 
sloops-of-war  Hornet,  150  men,  and  Argus,  130  men. 

The  British  war  frigate  Belvidera,  thirty-eight 
guns,  and  Tartarus,  twenty,  which  had  been  for 
some  days  off  Sandy  Hook,  could  not  be  found.  It 
was  alleged  that  information  had  been  given  them 
of  the  declaration  of  war  and  of  the  probable  move 
ments  of  the  American  war  vessels,  and  they  had 
sailed  for  other  waters. 

On  the  morning  after  the  commodore  sailed  the 
following  appeared  in  the  New  York  Columbian: 

"  It  is  undoubtedly  a  fact  that  dispatch  boats  with 
information  have  been  sent  off  to  the  British  vessels 
which  were  cruising  off  the  harbor  since  the  decla 
ration  of  war.  By  whom  they  were  sent  off  it  is  not 
necessary  at  present  to  mention.  But  this  much 
may  and  ought  to  be  said :  that  if  it  was  done  by  an 
American  citizen,  he  has  committed  treason  by  the 
laws  of  the  United  States,  and  deserves,  and  may  re 
ceive,  a  hanging  for  it.  There  is  no  suspicion,  how 
ever,  entertained  that  such  an  infamous  act  has  been 
done  by  an  American.  As  it  has,  therefore,  been  the 
act  of  the  subjects  of  the  king  of  England,  whether 
they  are  in  or  out  of  office,  the  act  is  a  violation  of 
the  hospitality  which  tolerates  their  residence  in 
our  city,  and  calls  loudly  upon  the  constituted  au 
thorities  to  put  the  laws  immediately  in  force  against 
alien  enemies,  and  to  rid  the  city  of  spies,  or  at  least 
such  as  disgrace  their  character  by  acting  in  so  in 
famous  a  capacity." 


6  WAR    VESSELS. 


Commodore  Bodgers  sighted  the  Belvidera  and 
gave  chase;  she  was  fired  upon,  and  fire  was  returned, 
some  damage  done  both  vessels;  but  she  escaped  and 
hastened  to  Halifax,  the  British  naval  station,  with 
news  of  the  declaration  of  war,  which  caused  the 
enemy  to  collect  a  fleet,  which,  early  in  July,  was  off 
New  York,  where  it  captured  a  great,  many  Ameri 
can  merchantmen. 

While  chasing  the  Belvidera  the  President  re 
ceived  a  number  of  shot  in  her  sails  and  rigging,  but 
was  not  materially  injured.  One  of  the  President's 
guns  bursted,  by  which  three  men  were  killed  and 
nineteen  wounded.  By  this  accident  Commodore 
Eodgers'  leg  was  fractured.  The  chase  lasted  from 
six  A.M.  on  June  28  until  midnight. 
fe-There  were  left  in  New  York  for  its  defence  only 
thirty-four  gunboats,  of  which  twenty  only  were  in 
commission,  and  seven  under  repair  at  the  Brooklyn 
Navy  Yard.  These  gunboats  carried  usually  one 
gun  each.  They  were  barges,  about  forty-five  feet 
long,  and  had  one  twenty-four-pound  long  gun  on 
upper  deck  on  a  carriage,  and  a  howitzer  on  some  of 
them,  and  had  thirty-six  men.  They  were  usually 
rowed  by  the  seamen,  or  could  be  towed  by  other 
vessels. 

On  June  20  Gen.  Ebenezer  Stevens,  of  the  militia, 
communicated  to  the  common  council,  which  met 
on  Monday  following,  Gen.  Bloomfield's  order  an 
nouncing  the  declaration  of  war,  and  added  :  "I 
shall  be  happy  in  co-operating  with  the  honorable 
corporation  in  any  measures  which  appear  advisable 
for  the  more  complete  protection  of  the  city." 

The  common  council  met  on  Monday,  June  22,  and 
passed  a  resolution  that  the  Committee  of  Defence  be 


DEFENCE   OF  NEW   YORK. 


requested  to  report  whether  any  or  what  measures 
ought  to  be  adopted  by  the  corporation  for  the 
defence  of  the  city. 

The  Standing  Committee  of  Defence  was  enlarged 
by  adding  the  Recorder.  Messrs.  Lawrence,  King,  and 
Wilson  and  Alderman  Buckmaster. 

A  Committee  of  Defence  had  already  been  appoint 
ed  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  common  council  on  2d 
of  December,  1811,  after  the  annual  charter  election, 
which  at  that  time  took  place  on  the  third  Tuesday 
of  November  in  each  year,  and  continued  for  three 
days,  and  the  municipal  political  year  commenced 
on  the  first  Monday  of  December.  The  common  coun 
cil's  previous  Committee  of  Defence  consisted  of 
Aldermen  Nicholas  Fish,  John  Morss,  Peter  Mesier, 
and  Thomas  Carpenter,  and  Assistant  Aldermen 
Samuel  Jones,  Jr.,  Peter  Hawes,  and  John  Drake. 

The  common  council  met  every  Monday  afternoon 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  mayor's  office  in  the  north 
west  corner  of  the  City  Hall,  and  if  there  was  any 
business  to  transact,  and  a  quorum,  it  was  proceeded 
with,  or  a  short  adjournment  made  for  a  special 
meeting,  if  it  required  attention  before  the  next  reg 
ular  meeting  day.* 

On  June  25  Committee  of  Defence  reported  that 
fortifications  and  military  preparations  were  insuf 
ficient,  and  that  a  representation  should  be  made  to 
United  States  government  to  erect  a  castle  or  other 
strong  fortification  on  Hendrick's  Reef,  and  that 
a  representation  be  made  to  State  government  urg  - 
ing  the  erection  of  a  battery  near  Denyse's,  on  the 


*  The  mayor  could  call  a  special  meeting  at  any   time,  and   they 
could  also  convene  at  any  time  agreeable  to  themselves. 


ACTION  OF  CITY  COUNCIL. 


Long  Island  shore,  and  that  two  floating  batteries 
be  built  by  the  city  for  immediate  defence. 

A  resolution  was  also  passed  that  Committee  of 
Defence  obtain  copy  of  signals  to  be  used  at  the  Tel 
egraph  at  the  Narrows,  and  a  good  spyglass  and  the 
necessary  utensils  and  fixtures  to  give  the  same  sig 
nals  from  the  cupola  of  the  City  Hall. 

While  the  Essex,  Capt.  Porter,  was  getting  ready 
to  sail,  it  was  whispered  around  that  some  of  his 
crew  were  English  born. 

(June  25)  Capt.  Porter  caused  all  hands  to  be  piped 
on  deck  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United 
States,  and  gave  them  to  understand  that  any  man 
who  did  not  choose  to  do  so  should  be  discharged. 
When  John  Erving  heard  his  name  called  he  told 
the  captain  (Erving  says  in  his  deposition)  that,  be 
ing  a  British  subject,  he  must  refuse  to  take  the 
oath  ;  on  which  the  captain  spoke  to  the  petty  of 
ficers  and  told  them  they  must  pass  sentence  upon 
him.  He  says  that  they  then  put  him  into  the  petty 
launch,  which  lay  alongside  the  frigate,  and  there 
poured  a  bucket  of  tar  over  him,  and  then  laid  on  a 
quantity  of  feathers,  having  first  stripped  him 
naked  to  the  waist  ;  they  then  rowed  him  ashore, 
stern  foremost,  and  landed  him  in  New  York  City  ; 
that  he  wandered  about  from  street  to  street  in  this 
condition  until  Mr.  Ford  took  him  into  his  shop  to 
save  him  from  the  crowd  that  was  beginning  to 
gather  ;  that  he  stayed  there  until  the  police  took 
him  away  to  the  city  prison  for  protection,  where 
he  was  cleansed  and  clothed.  None  of  the  citizens 
molested  or  insulted  him.  He  said  he  had  "  a  pro 
tection"  which  he  bought  of  a  man  in  Salem, 
Mass.,  of  the  same  name  and  description  as  himself, 


NATIONAL  MOTTO.  9 

for  four  shillings  and  sixpence,  which  he  got  re 
newed  at  the  custom-house  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  at 
the  time  he  joined  the  Essex  in  October.  1811. 

On  the  3d  of  July  the  Essex,  Capt.  Porter,  qui 
etly  set  sail  on  a  cruise,  disguised  as  a  merchant 
man.  On  the  foretop -gallant-mast  was  flying  a 
white  flag  with  the  words  in  blue,  ' (  Free  Trade  and 
Sailors'  Rights." 

This  motto  became  one  of  the  most  famous  that 
any  nation  ever  originated.  It  grew  out  of  the 
peculiar  political  conditions  existing  at  that  time 
between  the  United  States  and  European  nations 
in  regard  to  neutral  commerce. 

This  question  of  "  Free  Trade  and  Sailors'  Rights" 
has  never  come  up  in  our  intercourse  with  foreign 
nations  since  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812-15, 
neither  was  it  settled  by  that  war  or  alluded  fco  in 
the  treaty  of  peace  with  England  which  followed. 
But  ever  since  that  time  i  i  Free  Trade  and  Sailors' 
Rights "  have  been  part  and  parcel  of  the  law  of 
nations,  and  it  can  no  more  be  said  that ' '  Britannia 
rules  the  wave." 


CHAPTER  II. 

War  Meeting  in  City  Hall  Park — Address  and  Resolutions  adopted 
— Col.  Henry  Rutgers — Lack  of  General  Approval  of  the  War — 
Petition  for  Embargo — Jacob  Barker — Tammany  Society  and  the 
War — Veterans  of  the  Revolutionary  War  in  Arms — Action  of 
City  Officials — Mayor  Clinton's  Charge  to  the  Grand  Jury — Riots 
Feared — Peace  Officers  Appointed — Presidential  Election. 


OME  of  the  newspapers  published  a  notice 
on  Monday  that  a  public  meeting  would 
be  held  at  City  Hall  Park  on  Wednesday, 
June  24,  at  twelve  o'clock,  to  approve  of 
the  war  measure.  The  only  names  pub 
lished  as  connected  with  the  meeting 
was  that  of  Col.  Henry  Rutgers,  who 
was  chosen  chairman,  and  ex-Mayor  Col.  Marinus 
Willett,  who  was  secretary  ;  both  of  them  distin 
guished  citizens.  Resolutions  were  read  and  adopted 
which  were  published  in  some  of  the  newspapers. 
The  report  of  the  proceedings  was  as  follows  : 

' i  A  general  meeting  of  the  citizens,  agreeably  to 
public  notice,  was  held  on  Wednesday,  June  24, 
at  twelve  o'clock,  in  the  Park. 

"  COLONEL  HENRY  RUTGERS  was  unanimously  call 
ed  to  the  chair,  and  Col.  Marinus  Willett  appoint 
ed  secretary. 

' '  The  law  of  Congress  declaring  war  against  the 
United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  and 
their  dependencies,  and  the  President's  proclama- 


PUBLIC  MEETING.  11 

tion  being  read,  the  following  preamble  and  reso 
lutions  were  unanimously  adopted: 

' '  In  one  of  those  awful  and  interesting  moments 
with  which  it  has  pleased  Heaven  that  states  and 
kingdoms  should  at  times  be  visited,  we  consider  our 
selves  convoked  to  express  our  calm,  decided,  and 
animated  opinion  on  the  conduct  of  our  government. 

' '  Peace  has  ever  been  considered  one  of  the  greatest 
blessings  that  an  all-bountiful  Creator  has  vouch 
safe!  to  man  upon  earth,  while  war  has  ever  been 
designated  as  the  scourge  of  nations  ;  but  the  same 
all- wise  Providence  has  likewise  permitted  that  in 
the  events  of  time  suoh  circumstances  should  accrue 
to  nations  as  would  render  it  not  only  necessary  but 
an  absolute  duty  to  abandon  the  comforts  and  de 
lights  of  peace,  in  order  that,  by  a  solemn  appeal  to 
arms,  they  may  be  enabled  to  secure  themselves 
equally  important  blessings  ;  that  by  encountering 
for  a  time  the  disasters  and  vicissitudes  of  war,  they 
may  secure  themselves  and  transmit  to  their  poster 
ity  those  invaluable  advantages  to  which,  by  the 
laws  of  nature,  of  nations,  and  of  God,  they,  as  in 
dependent  governments,  are  justly  entitled. 

'  'When  a  retrospect  is  taken  of  the  last  twelve  years 
of  our  history,  we  find  recorded  the  violation  of  one 
sacred  right  after  another  ;  we  behold  one  continued 
series  of  insults,  one  long  succession  of  oppressions — 
our  government,  with  the  true  spirit  of  a  republic, 
patiently  sustaining  while  temperately  remonstrat 
ing,  until  indignity  has  been  added  to  indignity,  and 
injury  heaped  upon  injury.  With  a  reluctance  com 
mon  only  to  such  as  duly  appreciate  the  blessings  of 
peace  have  they  calmly  endured  and  perseveringly 
negotiated,  under  a  pious  but  vain  expectation  that 


12  RESOLUTIONS  ADOPTED. 

reason  and  expostulation  would  at  length  bring  the 
nation  injuring  us  to  a  sense  of  equity,  and  thereby 
avert  the  necessity  of  a  resort  to  those  ulterior  meas 
ures,  always  direful  in  their  operation,  even  to  that 
party  that  is  most  successful. 

"  Our  government,  mild  and  peaceable  in  its  very 
nature,  and  defenceless  on  the  ocean,  has  endeav 
ored  in  the  very  spirit  of  meekness,  by  every  wise 
and  at  the  same  time  soothing  expedient,  to  con 
vince  the  belligerent  nations  of  the  justice  of  our 
councils  ;  our  ardent  wish  to  conduct  in  all  things 
agreeably  to  the  estaolished  usages  of  nations,  and 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  them  no  just  cause  of 
offense.  But,  knowing  our  maritime  weakness  in 
comparison  with  their  strength,  they  have  turned  a 
deaf  ear  to  the  equity  of  our  demands,  and,  with  the 
insolence  common  to  superior  and  arbitrary  power, 
have  so  accumulated  the  catalogue  of  our  wrongs 
that  longer  forbearance  would  be  attended  with  the 
absolute  prostration  of  all  national  character,  the 
abandonment  of  the  rights  of  an  independent  republic 
and  would  render  our  government  unworthy  of  the 
confidence  of  its  own  citizens  and  of  the  respect  of 
the  world. 

"  Our  government,  therefore,  with  all  calm  delibe 
ration,  and  with  that  solemn  delay  that  ever  attends 
those  who  are  forced  reluctantly  from  their  tran 
quil  and  beloved  abodes  to  launch  on  a  perilous  and 
tempestuous  ocean,  have  finally  resigned  the  peace  of 
the  country  into  the  hands  of  the  Great  Disposer  of 
all  events,  and  under  his  banner,  with  a  perfect 
conviction  of  the  equity  of  their  cause,  they  have  de 
clared  this  country  to  be  at  war  with  Great  Britain. 
Therefore, 


RESOLUTIONS  ADOPTED.  13 


"  Resolved,  That  we  have  viewed  with  pleasure  and 
approbation  the  unceasing  efforts  of  our  govern 
ment  to  preserve  to  our  country  the  blessings  of 
peace ;  that  we  duly  appreciate  their  able  negotia 
tions,  and  admire  their  unwearied  patience  to  pro 
mote  so  important  an  end  ;  and  that  we  consider 
them  standing  justified  in  the  eyes  of  their  fellow- 
citizens  in  all  the  restrictive  measures  to  which  they 
have  resorted  as  temporary  expedients,  with  the  hope 
of  preventing  thereby  the  evils  of  war. 

' '  Resolved,  That  while  solicitous  of  peace,  and  ar 
dently  attached  to  its  blessings,  we  believe  that  the 
crisis  has  arrived  when  it  could  no  longer  be  with 
honor  retained;  that  we,  therefore,  hold  our  govern 
ment  justified  in  its  appeal  to  arms  against  Great 
Britain,  and  yield  to  its  decision  our  unqualified  and 
decided  approbation. 

"Resolved,  That  as  our  government  has  now  ap 
pealed  to  the  sword,  it  becomes  the  duty  of  all  good 
citizens,  at  such  eventful  period,  to  lay  aside  all 
party  animosity  and  private  bickering,  to  rally,  as 
becomes  brethren  equally  involved  in  the  welfare  of 
their  common  country,  round  the  national  standard, 
and  to  yield  to  their  government  an  undivided  sup 
port. 

"  Resolved,  That  placing  our  reliance  in  the  Most 
High,  and  soliciting  his  benediction  on  our  just 
cause,  we  pledge  to  our  government,  in  support  of  our 
beloved  country,  '  our  lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our 
sacred  honor/ 

"  Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be 
signed  by  the  chairman  and  secretary,  and  a  copy 
transmitted  by  them  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States  and  to  both  houses  of  Congress. 


1-4  COL.    HENRY  RUTGERS. 

' i  Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  be  published  in 
the  newspapers  in  this  city. 

6  i  HENRY  KUTGERS,  Chairman. 

UM.  WILLETT.  Secretary." 

The  hand  of  Col.  Henry  Kutgers  could  be  dis 
tinguished  in  every  sentence  in  the  published  pro 
ceedings.*  No  further  account  of  what  took  place 

*  HENRY  RUTGERS  was  born  in  New  York  in  1745,  and  was 
graduated  at  King's  College,  in  New  York  City,  in  1766.  When  the 
British  a.rmy  occupied  New  York  City  his  father's  family  was  driven 
therefrom,  and  his  house  was  used  by  them  as  a  hospital,  while  the 
family  dwelt  elsewhere.  There  is  no  evidence  that  he  ever  was  in 
military  service  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  name  does  not 
appear  as  an  officer  or  private  on  the  rolls  of  the  New  York  militia 
recently  printed,  or  that  he  was  in  service  at  any  time  during  the 
Revolution;  neither  does  it  appear  on  the  army  rolls.  He  never 
claimed  to  have  served  as  an  officer  or  soldier  in  the  Revolution. 
His  brother  was  a  captain  in  the  service.  At  the  end  of  the  war 
he  became  the  owner  of  the  Rutgers  homestead  in  New  York  City, 
and  kept  bachelor's  hall  there  until  his  death  in  1830.  He  was  pos 
sessed  of  great  wealth  and  never  engaged  in  any  business;  his  time 
was  sufficiently  taken  up  in  attending  to  his  estate  and  the  exercise 
of  his  many  noble  deeds  of  charity  and  philanthropy.  He  was  the 
most  liberal  philanthropist  of  the  age,  and  it  is  in  that  field  that  he 
stands  above  others  of  his  time.  He  contributed  largely  to  aid  reli 
gious  and  educational  enterprises.  He  was  accustomed  to  spend  one- 
fourth  of  his  income  in  charities. 

He  took  active  part  as  a  prominent  citizen  in  the  many  movements 
and  measures  relating  to  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  which 
will  be  fully  detailed  in  the  following  pages  of  this  work. 

In  1826  "Rutgers  Medical  College,  located  in  Duane  street,  was 
erected  and  named  from  Col.  Henry  Rutgers,  and  graduates  were  to 
receive  their  diplomas  from  Rutgers  College  at  New  Brunswick.  A 
gold  medal,  the  gift  of  Col.  Rutgers,  was  awarded  annually  to  the 
author  of  the  best  medical  dissertation  by  any  pupil  of  the  college. 
Rutgers  College,  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  was  named  from  him  by 
the  trustees  "  as  a  mark  of  their  respect  for  his  character  and  in  grati 
tude  for  his  numerous  services  rendered  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church." 

In  the  funeral  sermon  Dr.  McMurray  said:  "There  is  scarcely  a 
benevolent  object  or  humane  institution  which  he  has  not  liberally 
assisted."  He  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  war  of  1812.  In  1819 
lie  was  a  member  of  a  committee  appointed  to  enter  into  correspon 
dence  with  citizens  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  with  a  view  to  de 
vising  some  plan  for  checking  the  spread  of  slavery.  He  had  al 
ways  lived  simply,  and  died  a  millionaire,  and  in  his  will  he  directs 
his  executors  to  avoid  all  ostentation  at  his  funeral  ;  the  sum  thus 
saved  he  leaves  to  an  infant  school. 

He  entered  into  local  politics;  was  member  of  Assembly  in  1784  and 


PARTY  FELLING  DISPLAYED.  15 

at  the  meeting  was  published.     All  the  New  York 
newspapers  were  opposed  to  the  war. 

The  attendance  at  the  meeting  was  estimated  at 
from  seven  hundred  to  fifteen  hundred  persons.  It 
was  called  by  order  of  the  Democratic  General  Com 
mittee,  Jonathan  Thompson,  chairman,  and  John  L. 
Broome,  secretary.  The  Commercial  Advertiser 
said  that  the  reason  why  the  meeting  was  so  com 
paratively  small  was  that  it  was  professedly  called 
by  the  general  committee  of  one  section  of  the  De 
mocratic  party.  There  were  then  a  Madisonian  sec 
tion  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  a  Clintonian  fac 
tion,  in  New  York  State.  The  Federal  party  in  New 
York  City,  as  shown  by  the  State  election  two 
months  before,  polled  a  much  larger  vote  than  the 
aggregate  of  the  other  two.  The  Clintonian  branch 
was  larger  than  the  Madisonian. 

New  York  was  a  stronghold  of  Federalists,  who 
were  opposed  to  any  policy  that  the  national  admin 
istration  might  advance.  The  young  men  under 

in  1801-1802  and  1807.  He  was  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat,  and  in 
1801,  as  member  of  Assembly,  voted  for  Democratic  presidential 
electors  for  New  York  Slate,  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  Jef 
ferson  as  President,  and  Burr  as  Vice-President.  He  was  presiden 
tial  elector  in  1808  and  voted  for  Madison.  In  1811  he  contributed 
and  assisted  in  raising  funds  to  build  Tammany  Hall.  He  was  presi 
dent  of  the  State  Electoral  College  in  1816,  when  the  vote  of  the 
State  was  for  James  Monroe  for  President,  and  also  again  in  1820 
when  the  vote  was  for  James  Monroe,  President  again.  He  was  a  Re 
gent  of  the  University  of  the  State  of.  New  York  from'  1802  to  1826; 
was  president  of  the  Public  School  .Society  in  New  York  City  from 
1828  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

His  character  was  uniform  and  consistent,  arid  he  thus  gained  the 
confidence  of  his  friends  and  respect  of  his  enemies.  In  person  he 
was  a  tall,  plain-looking  man,  with  a  kindly  expression  of  face. 

The  title  of  colonel  was  undoubtedly  derived  from  his  being  a  col 
onel  of  militia  for  a  few  years  about  1788-90. 

The  "  Rutgers  Insurance  Company  "  took  the  namebecause  of  the 
situation  of  its  principal  office  on  Chatham  Square,  near  the  old  Rut 
gers  farm,  and  Rutgers  street  bears  that  name  for  the  same  reason. 


16  EMBARGO  LAID. 


forty  years  of  age  were  clamorous  for  war,  but  the 
older  men,  and  those  who  were  mostly  property 
owners  in  the  city,  and  merchants,  were  opposed  to  it. 

The  declaration  of  war  was  not  a  surprise.  It  had 
been  shown  that  a  strong  party  was  in  favor  of  it. 

On  April  4,  1812,  a  law  was  passed  laying  a  gener 
al  embargo  for  ninety  days  on  all  American  vessels 
then  in  American  ports  and  thereafter  arriving,  and 
another  was  par  °d  on  the  8th  to  increase  the  mili 
tary  force;  and  on  the  10th  another  law  authorizing 
a  detachment  of  100.000  men  from  the  militia,  to 
be  apportioned  among  the  States  and  to  be  officered 
by  the  governors  of  the  States,  and  to  serve  not 
exceeding  six  months,  at  same  pay  and  rations  as 
standing  army:  and  on  the  14th  a  law  prohibiting  the 
exportation  ot  >oecie  or  goods  during  the  existence 
of  the  embargo. 

On  the  morning  of  April  2,  1812,  the  New  York 
Evening  Post  stated  that  it  had  received  news  by 
express  in  thirty-six  hours  from  Washington — the 
very  important  information  that  a  resolution  for 
an  embargo  would  be  acted  upon  by  Congress  on 
April  1.  It  was  also  announced  in  Boston  by  ex 
press  in  seventy-six  hours  from  Washington. 

A  New  York  paper  stated  that  "had  the  city  been 
enveloped  in  flames,  property  could  not  have  been 
moved  off  with  greater  expedition.  From  the  morn 
ing  of  the  2d  of  April  until  the  evening  of  the  4th 
forty-eight  vessels  cleared  from  the  port  of  New 
York." 

On  the  first  day  of  June  the  President  sent  to  both 
houses  of  Congress  a  confidential  message,  to  be  dis 
cussed  with  closed  doors,  recommending  war  against 
Great  Britain.  Two  days  after  the  receipt  of  this  mes- 


PETITIONS   OF  NEW   YORK  17 

sage  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Belatioiis,  through 
John  C.  Calhoun,  made  a  report  to  the  House  in 
favor  of  war.  It  was  passed  by  the  House  on  June  4, 
and  then  sent  to  the  Senate.  On  the  18th  of  June 
the  injunction  of  secrecy  was  removed,  as  before 
stated,  and  the  President's  message,  the  report  of  the 
committee,  and  the  act  declaring  war  were  officially 
announced  on  June  19,  1812,  by  the  President's  pro 
clamation. 

Pending  the  debates  in  Congress  ,jn  the  question 
of  war,  Dr.  Samuel  L.  Mitchell,  the  member  from 
New  York  City,  being  opposed  to  a  war,  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  Tammany  Society  of  New  York,  in 
the  hope  of  having  his  views  sustained  by  that  in 
fluential  body.  He  asked  them  among  other  things 
if  they  were  prepared  to  abandon  th,  V  fruitful  mar 
itime  pursuits  in  exchange  for  the  frozen  regions  of 
Canada.  They  promptly  replied  in  effect  that  the 
nation's  honor  must  be  sustained  at  every  hazard. 

On  12th  of  June  Dr.  Mitchell  presented  a  petition 
to  the  House,  signed  by  310  citizens  of  New  York,  in 
opposition  to  war.  It  was  laid  on  the  table. 

While  the  bill  for  the  declaration  of  war  was  be 
ing  considered  by  the  Senate,  a  petition  was  presented 
in  United  States  Senate  by  Senator  Smith,  of  New 
York,  on  the  15th  of  June,  signed  by  most  of  the 
large  mercantile  houses,  and  many  wealthy  and  in 
fluential  citizens  of  New  York  City,  praying  that 
the  embargo  which  was  laid  on  American  shipping 
011  April  4-,  1812,  for  ninety  days,  be  continued,  and 
claiming  <  hat  lion-importation  laws  would  produce 
all  the  benefits  while  it  would  prevent  the  calami 
ties  of  a  war.  This  was  after  the  bill  for  the  de 
claration  of  war  had  been  passed  in  the  House. 


18  MERCHANTS  AND    OTHERS 

Among  the  fifty-eight  signers  were  John  Jacob 
Astor,  Howland  &  Grinnell,  Ogden  &  Company,  El- 
bert  Herring,  Jacob  Barker,  and  many  other  well- 
known  names;  among  them,  two  were  bank  presi 
dents  (there  were  then  only  five  banks  in  the  city), 
three  were  presidents  of  insurance  companies,  thir 
teen  were  directors  of  banks;  forty-two  of  the  sign 
ers  were  Federalists,  and  sixteen  were  Democrats. 
Some  of  them  were  members  of  Tammany  Society. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  petition  : 

To  the  honorable  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represent 
atives  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Con 
gress  assembled : 

1  k  The  memorial  of  the  subscribers,  merchants  and 
others,  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  New  York,  respect 
fully  showeth  : 

"  That  your  memorialists  feel,  in  common  with  the 
rest  of  their  fellow-citizens,  an  anxious  solicitude 
for  the  honor  and  interests  of  their  country, 
and  an  equal  determination  to  assert  and  maintain 
them  ; 

"  That  your  memorialists  believe  that  a  continua 
tion  of  the  restrictive  measures  now  in  operation 
will  produce  all  the  benefits  while  it  prevents  the 
calamities  of  war; 

6 '  That  when  the  British  ministry  become  convinced 
that  trade  with  the  United  States  cannot  be  re 
newed  but  by  the  repeal  of  the  orders  in  council,  the 
distress  of  their  merchants  and  manufacturers,  and 
their  inability  to  support  their  armies  in  Spain  and 
Portugal,  will  probably  compel  them  to  that 
measure. 

"Your  memorialists  beg  leave  to  remark  that  such 


AGAINST  THE   WAR.  19 

effects  are  even  now  visible,  and  it  may  be  reason 
ably  hoped  that  a  continuance  of  the  embargo  and 
non-importation  laws  a  few  months  beyond  the 
fourth  day  of  July  next  will  effect  a  complete  and 
bloodless  triumph  of  our  rights. 

( c  Your  memorialists  therefore  respectfully  solicit  of 
your  honorable  body  the  passage  of  a  law  continu 
ing  the  embargo,  and  giving  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States  power  to  discontinue  the  whole  of  the 
restrictive  system  on  the  rescinding  of  the  British 
orders  in  council. 

"The  conduct  of  France,  in  .burning  our  ships,  in 
sequestrating  our  property  entering  her  ports,  ex 
pecting  protection  in  consequence  of  the  promised 
repeal  of  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees,  and  the  delay 
in  completing  a  treaty  with  the  American  minister, 
has  excited  great  sensation,  and  we  hope  and  trust 
will  call  forth  from  your  honorable  body  such  retal 
iatory  measures  as  may  be  best  calculated  to  pro 
cure  justice. 

"John  Jacob  Astor,  William  Lovettr 

Rowland  &  Grinnell,       Amasa  Jackson,, 
Israel  Gibbs,  Joseph  Strong, 

John  Slidell,  Joshua  Jones, 

Andrew  Ogdeii  &  Co.,     Kobert  Roberts, 
Amos  Butler,  Hugh  McCormick, 

Isaac  Heyer,  Gilbert  Haight, 

Samuel  Bell,  Leffer  Lefferts, 

Joseph  W.  Totten,  John  W.  Gale, 

Alexander  Euden,  Peter  Stagg, 

Lewis  Hartman?  Win.  Adee, 

George  Bement,  Jacob  P.  Giraud, 

Abraham  Smith,  John  Kane, 

Andrew  Foster,  Samuel  Marshall, 


20  JACOB  BARKER. 


"  Samuel  Adams,  William  Edgar,  Jr., 

E.  Slosson,  Wm.  J.  Robinson, 

Isaac  Clason,  Abraham  S.  Hallot, 

John  K.  Townsend,  Fredk.  Giraud,  Jr. , 

Thomas  Storms,  John  Crookes, 

Ebenezer  Burrill,  John  Depeyster, 

Ralph  Bulkley,  James  Lovett, 

John  T.  Lawrence,  Augustus  Wynkoop, 

Isaac  Schermerhorn,  John  F.  Delaplaine, 

Joseph  Otis,  David  Taylor, 

Garrit  Storm,  Samuel  Stilwell, 

S.  A.  Rich,  John  Hone, 

Thos.  H.  Smith,  Jr.,  Thomas  Rich, 

Jacob  Barker,  Elbert  Herring." 

This  petition  was  drawn  up  and  circulated  for 
signatures  by  Jacob  Barker. 

He  was  probably  the  most  influential  man,  in  his 
way,  at  that  time  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Then  and 
for  several  years  before  the  war  he  was  the  largest 
.ship  owner  in  the  United  States,  with  the  exception 
of  William  Gray,  of  Salem,  Mass.  He  was  always 
found  on  the  side  of  the  Democratic  party  as  a 
body,  but  in  meetings  advocated  measures  that  were 
not  in  harmony  with  the  party.  He  was  prominent 
in  Tammany  Society  and  through  the  columns  of 
the  press;  and  at  public  political  meetings  he  gener 
ally  made  speeches.  He  was  also  liberal  in  expend 
ing  money  in  the  printing  and  distribution  of  mat 
ter  that  advocated  his  political  ideas.  He  was  op 
posed  to  the  renewal  of  the  charter  of  the  United 
States  bank,  and  did  much  to  cause  the  defeat  of  the 
renewal  of  its  charter  in  1811.  His  influence  was 
not  only  great  among  the  wealthy,  but  among  me- 


JACOB  BARKER.  21 


chanics  and  laborers,  and  others  in  humble  life.  His 
political  opponents,  in  their  scramble  for  office  and 
power,  attempted  to  break  down  his  influence.  The 
Federalists  and  their  newspapers  denounced  and 
misrepresented  him  in  every  manner  that  would  im 
pair  his  influence  and  power,  politically  and  other 
wise.  But  this  only  spurred  him  on  in  activity,  zeal, 
and  perseverance. 

When  the  question  of  war  was  thought  to  be  the 
immediate  course  of  Congress  after  the  embargo  law 
of  April,  1812,  Mr.  Barker,  looking  to  his  own  person 
al  interest  to  choose  between  war  and  peace,  and  be 
lieving  that  the  British  orders  in  council  would  soon 
be  rescinded  and  leave  American  ocean,  commerce 
free,  drew  this  petition  asking  Congress  to  con 
tinue  the  embargo  and  defer  a  declaration  of  war 
for  a  short  period,  and  he  obtained  the  signatures  of 
the  most  influential  men  in  New  York  City,  of  both 
political  parties  to  this  petition.  It  was  presented 
in  the  United  States  Senate  by  Senator  Smith,  of 
New  York,  the  only  Democratic  senator  from  that 
State,  on  the  15th  of  June,  1812.  On  motion  of  Col. 
Taylor,  of  South  Carolina,  it  was  ordered  printed. 

That  the  war  was  very  unpopular  in  New  York 
City  and  State  there  can  be  no  doubt. 

There  were  many  veterans  of  the  Revolutionary 
war  residing  in  New  York.  Some  of  them  were 
in  favor  of  the  war,  and  some  against  it. 

When  the  news  of  the  declaration  of  war  spread, 
it  aroused  all  the  officers  of  the  militia  and  volun 
teers  from  tranquility,  and  scarcely  anything  else 
was  talked  about  but  their  military  duty  and  service. 

The  Veteran  Corps  of  Artillery  in  New  York 
City  was  the  first  militia  organization  to  take  active 


22  VETERANS    OF  THE 

measures  for  the  defence  of  the  city.  John  Dela- 
niater  was  their  captain.  He  had  been  a  militia 
officer  in  the  Revolution. 

On  June  22  a  notice  was  published  requiring 
the  Veteran  Corps  of  Artillery  to  assemble  on  the 
25th  of  June,  at  nine  o'clock,  at  the  new  arsenal  in 
Elm  street,  and  take  their  station  at  the  North 
Battery  (off  Hubert  street),  where,  the  notice  said, 
the  first  shot  was  received  from  the  Asia  at  the 
commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war;  mili 
tary  hat  and  side  arms  to  be  worn.  The  notice  was 
only  to  those  veterans  residing  in  New  York,  West- 
chester,  Kings,  and  Richmond  counties. 

Many  of  them  assembled  according  to  the  notice, 
and  took  possession  of  the  fort  off  Hubert  street  by 
permission  of  Gen.  Bloomfield. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  veteran  officers  of 
the  Revolutionary  war  who  were  residing  in  New 
York  City  and  immediate  vicinity  on  July  4,  1812, 
and  were  members  of  New  York  State  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati.  It  is  complied  from  Schuylers  "His 
tory  of  New  York  State  Society  of  the  Cincinnati : " 

Jonas  Addoms,  Lieut.,  N.  Y.  Artillery. 

Walter  Bicker,  Capt.        do.        do. 

Leonard  Bleecker,  Capt.,  1st  N.  Y.  Reg. 

Aaron  Burr,  Lieut. -Col. 

Jonathan  Burrall,  Dup.  Pay.  Gen. 

Matthew  Clarkson,  Maj.  and  A.-d. -c. 

Christopher  Codwise,  Lieut.,  2d  N.  Y.  Reg. 

Samuel  Cooper,    Lieut,    and  Adj.,  3d  Mass.  Ar 
tillery. 

Henry  Cunningham,  Lieut.,  N.  Y.  Artillery. 

James  Davidson,  Com.  Stores,  Gen.  Hospital. 

Philip  Van  Cortlandt,  Col.,  2d  N.  Y.  Reg. 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR.  23 

Edward  Dunscomb,  Capt.,  4th  N.  Y, 

James  Fairlie,  Lieut.,  2d  N.  Y.  and  A.-d.-c. 

Theodosius  Fowler,  Capt.,  2d  N.  Y. 

Nicholas  Fish,  Maj.  and  Brig.  Insp.,  2d  N.  Y. 

Aquila  Giles,  Maj.  and  A.  d. -c. 

James  Giles,  Lieut.,  N.  Y.  Artillery. 

John  Graham,  Maj.,  1st  N.  Y. 

John  Wheelwright  Greaton,  Ens.,  3d  Mass. 

Abijah  Hammond,  Lieut.,  3d  Mass.  Artillery. 

Abel  Holden,  Capt.,  6th  Mass. 

Christopher  Hutton,  Lieut,  and  Adj.,  2d  N.Y.  Keg. 

William  Leay craft,  Lieut.,  N.  Y.  Artillery. 

Abraham  Leggett,  Lieut. ,  5th  N.  Y. 

Morgan  Lewis,  Col.  and  Q.-M.-Geii. 

Brockholst  Livingston,  Lieut. -Col.,  A.-d.-c. 

Lebbeus  Loomis,  Lieut.,  1st  Conn. 

Nathaniel  Norton,  Capt.,  4th  N.  Y. 

Nathaniel  Pendleton,  Capt.,  A.-d.-c. 

Eichard  Platt,  Maj.,  A,-d.-c. 

William  Popham,  Capt. ,  A.  -d.  -c. 

John  Pray,  Capt. ,  12th  Mass. 

Jacob  Reed,  Jr.,  Capt.,  N.  Y.  Artillery. 

John  R.  B.  Rodgers,  Surg.,  3d  Penn. 

Jedediah  Rogers,  Capt.,  2d  Conn.  Drag. 

Gerard  Steddiford,  Lieut.,  4th  Penn. 

Ebenezer  Stevens,  Lieut. -Col.,  N.  Y.  Artillery. 

James  Stewart,  Capt.,  5th  N.  Y. 

Cornelius  Swartwout,  Capt.,  Lieut.,  N.  Y.  Art. 

Henry  Tiebout,  Capt.,  1st  N.  Y. 

William  Torrey,  Lieut,  of  Mass.  Regt. 

Robert  Troup,  Lieut. -Col.,  A.-d.-c. 

John  Trumbull,  Col.  and  Dp.  Adj.  Gen. 

Richard  Varick,  Lieut. -Col.  and  Dup.  Mm.  Gen. 

John  Van  Dyk,  Capt.,  2d  N.  Y.  Art. 


24:  CITY  ORDINANCES. 

Jedediah  Waterman,  Ens.,  8th  Mass. 

Marinus  Willett,  Lieut. -Col.,  5th  N.  Y. 

All  of  the  veteran  officers  of  the  Kevolutionary 
war  residing  in  New  York  did  not  belong  to  the 
aristocratic  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  for  various 
reasons.  Those  that  served  in  the  militia  only, 
were  not  eligible,  neither  were  privates  that  were  in 
the  militia  or  those  that  were  in  the  regular  army 
admitted  to  membership. 

The  young  men  were  very  demonstrative,  and 
paraded  the  streets  early  and  late  with  fifes  and 
bass  drums,  playing  the  popular  military  airs  of  the 
day.  These  were  " Yankee  Doodle,"  "The  Campbells 
are  Coming,"  "President's  March,"  and  other  semi- 
political  airs.  They  would  frequently  stop  their 
march  to  serenade  some  of  the  Federalists  who  were 
known  to  be  strongly  opposed  to  the  war.  This 
continual  fifing  and  drumming  soon  got  to  be  an 
intolerable  nuisance. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Common  Council  on  the  29th 
of  June  quite  lengthy  and  specific  regulations  and 
directions  were  adopted  for  the  prevention  and 
suppressing  of  riots.  One  had  recently  occurred  in 
Baltimore,  directed  against  an  editor  who  was 
opposed  to  the  war. 

An  ordinance  also  was  passed  on  June  29,  making 
it  unlawful  for  any  person,  excepting  those  in  actual 
service,  to  beat  drums  or  play  fifes  in  the  streets 
between  eight  in  the  evening  and  four  in  the 
morning,  under  penalty  of  ten  dollars  fine  and 
being  sent  to  the  watch-house.  This  virtually  con 
fined  it  to  between  sunrise  and  sunset. 

A  meeting  was  called  for  the  citizens  to  meet  at 
Tammany  Hall,  to  approve  of  the  war,  on  the  7th 


MEETING    CALLED.  25 

of  July;  but  it  must  have  had  a  cool  reception.  No 
resolutions  were  published,  and  very  little  notice  of 
it  appeared  in  the  journals  of  the  day. 

A  peculiarity  of  the  call  was  that  it  was  "  recom 
mended  to  our  fellow  citizens  of  forty-five  years  of 
age  and  upwards." 

Very  little  or  no  regard  was  paid  to  the  ordinance 
against  drumming,  and  about  two  or  three  weeks 
afterwards  the  clerk  of  the  Common  Council  pub 
lished  a  notice  in  some  of  the  daily  papers,  calling 
attention  to  it  and  asserting  that  it  would  be  strictly 
enforced  in  the  future. 

De  Witt  Clinton  was  mayor,  and  ex-officio  presi 
dent  of  the  Common  Council,  which  was  then  a  more 
influential  and  important  office  than  now.  He  was 
also  lieutenant-governor.  He  presided  in  the  chief 
criminal  courts  in  the  city.  In  his  charge  to  the 
Grand  Jury  on  July  9,  1812,  in  a  peculiar  manner 
he  defines  the  duties  of  the  constituted  authorities 
of  the  land  to  sustain  the  government  through  the 
rugged  crisis.  He  also  said:  "  Any  off ences  against 
the  laws  of  the  State  connected  with  aid,  comfort, 
or  intercourse  with  the  enemy,  or  with  levying  war 
against  the  people  of  this  State  within  this  State, 
are  proper  subjects  for  your  cognizance  ;  and  if, 
since  the  promulgation  of  the  declaration  of  war, 
any  offences  of  this  kind  have  been  perpetrated, 
it  is  your  duty  to  present  them  for  punishment." 

On  the  7th  of  July  an  order  was  issued  from  the 
State  Department  at  Washington,  requiring  all 
British  subjects  to  register  their  names,  ages,  places 
of  residence,  persons  composing  their  families,  etc., 
at  the  office  of  the  United  States  marshal  of  the 
district  in  which  such  persons  resided. 


RIOTS  FEARED. 


On  the  12th  of  July,  1812,  Mr.  Foster,  the  late 
British  minister,  and  Mr.  Barclay,  late  consul  at 
New  York,  departed  from  the  United  States,  at 
New  York  City,  on  board  the  British  flag  of  truce 
ColibrL  These  gentlemen  were  much  esteemed  for 
their  private  amiable  qualities. 

The  riot  in  Baltimore  against  those  who  opposed 
the  war  caused  the  Common  Council  of  New  York 
to  be  on  their  guard  against  one  in  New  York. 
Accordingly,  on  the  3d  of  August,  further  pre 
cautions  were  taken  by  the  Common  Council,  and 
one  hundred  citizens  in  each  of  the  ten  wards 
volunteered  and  were  organized,  under  the  City 
authorities,  to  aid  the  magistrates  and  Committee 
of  Defence  in  keeping  the  peace. 

The  peace  officers  connected  with  the  Police  De 
partment  in  1812  were  :  Jacob  Hays,  Samuel  Mont 
gomery,  George  B.  Raymond,  Thomas  Martin,  John 
Farrington,  Abner  Curtis,  David  Townley,  John  Con- 
klin,  JohnS.  Dusenbury,  and  John  McManus.  Jacob 
Hays  was  high  constable,  and  there  were  two  con 
stables  in  each  ward,  in  addition  to  the  above,  that 
could  aid  in  maintaining  the  peace  when  necessary. 

The  ordinance  provided  that  two  aldermen  and 
the  special  justices  attend  at  the  City  Hall  through 
each  night  to  quell  riots  ;  that  the  court  bell  in  the 
cupola  of  the  City  Hall  be  rung  and  rockets  sent  up 
as  an  alarm;  that  arrangements  be  made  for  two 
troops  of  cavalry  and  two  companies  of  the  brigade 
of  artillery  to  form  in  the  park  on  the  alarm,  and 
there  await  the  order  of  the  magistrates. 

That  the  drummers  of  the  regiments  of  artillery 
have  similar  orders  to  repair  to  the  City  Hall  on  that 
occasion. 


PEACE   OFFICERS.  27 

That  in  case  this  force  is  not  deemed  sufficient, 
the  general  to  be  beat,  and  that  all  the  artillery 
and  light  infantry  shall  repair  to  and  form  in 
the  City  Hall  Park,  and  there  await  the  orders  of 
the  magistrates. 

There  were  ten  special  justices,  one  for  each 
ward.  Their  names  were  as  follows  : 

1st  Ward,    Henry  Meigs. 

2d         "        E.  Burling. 

3d         "       Samuel  Van  Wyck. 

4th        "        Stephen  Burdett. 

5th       "        Samuel  Burritt. 

6th  George  Cumming. 

7th       "        Edward  McLaughlin. 

8th       "       W.  Wood. 

9th       "        Henry  Post. 
10th        "        Thomas  Waring. 

They  had  power  to  commit  offenders  to  prison, 
to  take  recognizance  for  their  appearance,  for 
their  keeping  the  peace  and  for  their  good  behavior, 
etc.,  and  all  the  powers  of  justices  of  the  peace 
in  other  counties. 

They  held  the  same  kind  of  courts  as  the  present 
district  court  or  ward  courts.  They  were  appointed 
by  the  State  Council  of  Appointment  at  Albany. 
They  were  familiarly  known  as  assistant  justices, 
in  distinction  from  the  justices  of  Marine  Court, 
which  latter  court  was  composed  of  only  three 
justices.  They  were  John  Ferguson,  Thomas 
Herttell,  and  A,  C.  Van  Slyck. 

The  thorough  measures  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
down  riots  were  necessary  at  this  time  because  of 
the  state  of  party  feeling  then  displayed.  The 
question  of  peace  or  war  was  intended  to  be  the 


28  PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION. 

issue  to  be  decided  by  the  choice  of  a  President  of 
the  United  States,  who  was  to  be  chosen  by  the 
representatives  of  the  people  in  a  few  months. 
The  presidential  campaign  had  already  commenced 
by  the  declaration  of  war  and  the  nomination  of 
Mr.  Madison  for  re-election  on  that  platform.  The 
old  men  were  for  council,  but  the  young  men  were 
for  war;  hence  the  fervor  in  the  coming  presidential 
campaign. 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  City  in  Peace— Population  and  Occupation — Public  Buildings — 
Landholders — Free  Colored  and  Slave — Aliens — Voters — Dwell 
ings — Commerce  and  Manufactures — Auctions — Business  Habits — 
Home  Comforts — How  they  Lived  then  and  how  they  Died 
— Number  and  Causes  of  Deaths  in  each  Year — Amusements — 
Theatres — Dancing— Dress— Streets  — Roads  —  Stages  —  Ferries  — 
Suburbs — Harlem— Brooklyn — Jersey  City — Hoboken. 


E W  YORK  CITY  then  contained  about 
ninety-eight  thousand  persons,  of  which 
about  fifteen  hundred  were  slaves.  The 
number  of  aliens  was  about  three 
thousand  ;  many  of  them  were  English, 
Scotch,  French,  and  Irish.  Germans 
were  almost  unknown  then.  There 
were  about  eight  thousand  free  persons  of  color, 
some  of  them  were  aliens  from  the  West  Indies. 
Aliens  were  so  few,  that  they  were  not  distin 
guished  in  the  Federal  census  of  1810  nor  in  the  State 
census  of  1814,  but  were  in  the  city  census  of  1813 
and  1816.*  The  city  then  contained  only  about  six 
teen  thousand  five  hundred  houses  all  told. 

Among  the  well-known  mercantile  houses  of 
that  day  were  Jenkins  &  Havens,  Gabriel  & 
Philetus  Havens,  Baily  &  Bogert,  Ebenezer 
Stevens  &  Sons,  B.  &  J.  Strong  &  Co., 

*In  appendix,  note  I.,  will  be  found  detailed  statements  of  the  in 
habitants  of  New  York  City  during  the  period  from  1810  to  1816, 
showing  the  number  of  freeholders,  etc.,  persons  owning  personal 
property  over  $150  in  value,  number  of  voters,  tenants,  colored, 
slaves,  aliens,  etc.,  and  number  of  deaths,  and  the  causes  thereof 
in  each  of  said  years  from  1810  to  1815  inclusive. 


30  LEADING   MERCHANTS. 

Selah  Strong  &  Son,  John  &  Jacob  Drake, 
Peter  Schermerhorii  &  Son,  Treadwell  &  Thome, 
Thomas  H.  Smith,  and  others.  These  were  Amer 
icans.  There  were  many  foreigners  who  were 
prominent  merchants  :  J.  Booneii  Graves,  Fred. 
Gebbard,  Knox  &  Laurie,  Divie  Bethmie,  Gilbert 
Kobertson,  George  Barnwall,  and  others.  The  Irish 
trade  was  a  very  important  one  before  the  embargo 
of  1807.  The  prominent  mercantile  houses  were 
James  McBride,  John  Flack,  Win.  and  Samuel 
Craig,  McVickar  &  Stewart,  Alex.  Cranston  &  Co., 
Abraham  Bell  &  Co.,  Major  &  Gillespie,  William 
Bailey,  James  Magee,  Robert  Dickie,  James  & 
William  Sterling,  Thomas  Suffern,  John  Agnew, 
David  Sullivan,  John  Morrison,  Robert  Kelly,  and 
others.  Many  of  these  named  were  Presbyterians 
from  the  North  of  Ireland.  There  were  four  varie 
ties  of  Presbyterians  in  the  city  at  that  time,  and 
their  churches  were  patronized  by  the  most  in 
fluential  portion  of  the  community. 

The  principal  occupation  of  the  inhabitants  was 
commerce  by  shipping.  The  registered  tonnage  for 
New  York  City  in  1812  was  268,548,  and  was  nearly 
double  that  of  any  other  port  in  the  United  States, 
and  equal  to  Boston  and  Philadelphia  together,  the 
latter  being  next  largest  city  in  size  to  New  York; 
in  1800  it  was  larger  than  New  York. 
*  The  city  of  New  York  at  that  time  was  the 
greatest  commercial  emporium  of  the  nation, 
although  Philadelphia  had  a  population  nearly  as 
large  and  her  manufactories  were  more  extensive 
than  those  of  New  York.** 

*In  1810  official   returns  showed   that  New   York  City  had  three 
looms  and  made  2,540  yards  of  woolens  and  217  yards  of  linen,  and 


CHAMBER    OF    COMMERCE.  31 

The  New  York  Chamber  of  Commerce  was 
established  in  1769.  It  was  instituted  for  the  pur 
pose  of  promoting  and  encouraging  commerce, 
supporting  industry,  and  adjusting  disputes  rela 
tive  to  trade  and  navigation.  The  officers  in  1812 
were :  Cornelius  Ray,  President ;  John  B.  Coles, 
Archibald  Gracie,  Vice -Presidents  ;  John  Ferrers, 
Secretary. 

'Retail  merchants  usually  supplied  their  stock 
from  public  auction  sales,  which  were  made  almost 
daily  as  the  merchandise  arrived  in  the  city. »  They 
regulated  their  retail  prices  according  to  the  public 
auction  sales  for  the  time,  without  regard  to  the 
prices  paid  by  them  for  the  goods. 

Many  persons  availed  themselves  at  auction  sales 
for  supplies  for  their  individual  wants,  and  thus 
auctions  came  to  be  largely  patronized.  The  State 
charged  a  percentage  on  sales  by  each  auctioneer  for 
the  privilege  of  his  business.  One-third  of  the  pro 
ceeds  of  these  auction  duties  arising  in  New  York 
City  were  devoted  to  the  support  of  the  foreign  poor 
in  New  York  City;  the  remaining  two-thirds  belonged 
to  the  State.  This  continued  from  1798  to  1816  in 
clusive.  For  the  year  1810  the  total  duties  amounted 
to  $30,096.19;  in  1811  to  $43,480.22;  in  1812  to 
$38,699.12  ;  in  1813  to  $52,022.32  ;  in  1814  to  $33,- 
336.87;  and  in  1815  to  $32,455.84. 

The  auctioneers  were  appointed  annually  by  the 

had  nine  tanneries,  eleven  distilleries,  fifteen  breweries,  five  hat 
factories,  and  two  machines  for  carding  wool,  and  ten  sugar  houses. 
No  other  manufactures  were  reported  for  New  York  City. 

Onondaga  County,  N.  Y..  with  a  population  of  only  26,000,  had 
1,016  looms  and  made  107,470  yards  of  woolen  and  197,106  yards  of 
linen,  and  8,000  yards  of  cotton;  had  31  tanneries,  26  distilleries, 
2  breweries,  10  hat  factories,  16  fulling  mills,  and  21  carding 
machines. 


32  AUCTION  SALES. 

State  Council  of  Appointment,  and  not  more  than 
thirty-six  were  allowed  at  any  one  time  in  New 
York  City. 

The  Custom  House  and  Federal  courts  were  in  the 
"Old  Government  House."  It  stood  on  an  emi 
nence  at  the  foot  of  Broadway,  on  the  south  side  of 
Bowling  Green.  It  was  a  large  double  brick  build 
ing,  with  a  showy  portico  in  front,  tc  which  the 
ascent  was  by  many  steps.  The  yard  and  garden 
extended  back  to  Bridge  street,  and  occupied  the 
whole  block  from  Whitehall  to  State  street. 

Bowling  Green  was  an  oval  plot  of  ground,  sit 
uated  between  Broadway  and  Whitehall  street,  sur 
rounded  by  an  iron  fence  which  had  been  placed 
there  before  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  heads  of 
the  iron  posts  had  been  broken  off  and  used  as 
balls  to  shoot  at  the  British  in  that  war.  The  same 
fence  is  still  surrounding  Bowling  Green  to  this  day. 
In  the  center  of  the  enclosure  of  Bowling  Green  still 
remains  the  pedestal  of  the  leaden  equestrian  statue 
of  King  George  III.,  which  was  taken  down  in  the 
early  part  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  melted 
into  bullets  by  the  patriots  to  shoot  at  the  British 
soldiers. 

Great  wealth,  as  then  considered,  was  concen 
trated  in  a  few  hands,  and  so  was  the  heaviest  ship 
ping  business. 

*  That  part  of  the  city  along  the  East  River  was 
the  chief  seat  of  the  foreign  trade.  Wholesale 
dealers  were  found  principally  in  Pearl  street,  Broad 
street,  and  about  Hanover  Square.  William  street, 
reaching  from  Wall  street  to  Fair  (now  Fulton) 
street,  was  the  great  seat  of  the  retail  trade, 
especially  in  fancy  and  staple  dry-goods,  and  of 


BUSINESS  LOCATIONS.  33 

course  the  great  resort  of  the  ladies  for  shopping. 
Many  of  the  inhabitants  resided  over  their  stores  or 
place  of  business. 

Pearl  street  was  the  principal  mart  of  the  city. 
Water,  Front,  and  South  streets  were  occupied  by 
extensive  warehouses.  There  was  considerable  re 
tail  trade  on  Chatham  street.  South,  Front,  Water, 
Pearl,  Pine,  and  Beekman  streets  contained  many 
family  residences.  Broadway,  below  Leonard  street, 
and  Greenwich  street,  each  was  a  favorite  locality 
for  private  residences.  In  Wall  and  State  streets 
were  many  residences  of  prominent  families.  Broad 
way  had  as  yet  only  attained  a  second-grade  position 
as  to  business.  * 

Along  the  North  Eiver  was  regarded  as  the  worst 
portion  of  the  city.  West  street  was  not  in  exist 
ence.  The  boat  landings  came  up  to  Washington 
street  in  many  places.  There  were  then  only  about 
thirty-five  houses  on  Washington  street,  and  they 
were  so  scattering  that  they  were  not  numbered. 

*  Greenwich  street  was  more  closely  built  than  any 
other  street,  and  contained  about  six  hundred  houses 
that  weve  numbered.  The  retail  trade  wras  exten 
sive  there.  The  portion  of  the  city  built  up  was 
three  and  one-half  miles  on  East  River  and  two 
miles  on  North  River.  * 

During  the  war  many  changes  were  made  in  the 
character  of  streets.  In  a  publication  in  1817  it  is 
stated  that  Broadway  was  regarded  then  as  the  first 
in  rank  for  residences,  and  Pearl  street  next.  Chat 
ham  street,  which  included  Park  Row,  was  called 
"an  elegant  street."  Maiden  Lane,  John,  Nassau, 
Broad,  Pine,  William,  Hudson,  and  Cherry  streets 
were  second-rate  streets.  Greenwich  had  the  largest 


34:  POST-OFFICE   SERVICE. 

retail  trade,  and  Water,  Front,  and  South  streets  the 
chief  warehouses. 

There  was  only  one  mail  a  day  each  way  between 
Washington  and  New  York  City  at  that  time.  It 
closed  in  Washington  at  six  P.M.,  and  was  due  in 
New  York  nominally  at  six  A.  M.  on  the  second  morn 
ing  after  starting,  but  it  was  frequently  behind  an 
hour  or  more.  In  bad  weather  it  did  not  arrive 
until  afternoon.  It  generally  arrived  in  the  sum 
mer  time  and  was  distributed  for  delivery  at  the 
post-office  at  about  nine  o'clock  A.M.  The  mail 
route  was  by  land  240  miles.  The  most  rapid  ex 
press  was  thirty -six  hours  from  Washington  to  New 
York  City. 

The  post-office  was  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
William  and  Garden  streets  (now  Exchange  Place), 
in  a  house  about  twenty- seven  feet  front.  Theodo- 
rus  Bailey,  formerly  from  Poughkeepsie  and  a 
United  States  Senator,  was  postmaster,  and  lived  in 
the  same  house.  He  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Jeffer 
son,  and  held  the  office  for  about  twenty-five  years, 
until  1827.  The  office  was  in  a  room  not  more  than 
twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  deep,  with  two  windows 
in  Garden  street,  and  in  William  street  a  little  ves 
tibule  of  small  dimensions,  containing  about  one 
hundred  boxes.  He  kept  only  two  or  three  clerks. 
The  deliveries  were  made  when  called  for  at  the 
office,  which  was  open  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  but  on 
Sundays  from  nine  to  ten  A.M.  and  one  to  two  P.M. 
When  heavy  mails  arrived  and  were  being  assorted 
the  delivery  window  was  closed.  This  generally 
happened  on  the  arrival  of  the  morning  mails,  so  the 
office  was  not  open  for  delivery  sometimes  until  near 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  There  were  six  carriers 


:  BOARD    OF  BROKERS.  35 

in  the  city.  Postage  was  payable  in  advance  or  on 
delivery,  at  the  option  of  the  sender.  On  letters  it 
was  from  eight  cents  to  twenty-five  cents  on  each 
sheet  of  paper,  according  to  distance.  There  were 
no  envelopes  or  stamps.  The  sheet  of  paper  allowed 
was  foolscap  size  ;  each  additional  sheet  was  charged 
as  if  a  separate  letter.  The  gross  revenue  of  the  New 
York  City  office  was  about  sixty  thousand  dollars  a 
year. 

The  deliveries  by  carriers  were  paid  for  by  the  par 
ties  to  whom  the  letters  were  delivered.  Orders  for 
deliveries  by  carriers  were  left  with  the  postmaster, 
who  conducted  the  delivery  department  as  a  private 
enterprise  on  his  own  account. 

There  was  very  little  business  done  before  nine  or 
ten  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Most  of  the  merchants 
and  people  in  business  dined  about  two  o'clock; 
others,  who  were  less  engaged,  about  three  o'clock; 
and  many  of  them  returned  to  their  business  after 
dinner,  and  their  offices  and  shops  were  kept  open 
in  the  evening.  Counting  houses,  insurance  offices, 
retail  stores,  shops,  and  the  like  kept  open  evenings 
until  nine  o'clock.  Mechanics  worked  evenings  dur 
ing  the  months  of  October  until  April.  The  Board 
of  Brokers  met  at  ten  o'clock.  The  Tontine  Coffee 
House  in  Wall  street  was  used  by  the  brokers  and 
merchants  as  an  exchange.  Twelve  o'clock  was  then 
the  hour  of  "high  'Change,"  and  it  was  the  custom 
to  take  a  glass  of  punch  with  a  piece  of  raw  salt  cod 
fish  and  sea  biscuit,  by  way  of  nooning,  at  the  bar  in 
the  center  of  the  room.  Overhead  was  the  ordinary 
where  dinner  was  served  at  three  o'clock,  at  which 
time  the  board  adjourned.  Thus  it  was  that  Wall 


36  CONDITION  OF  STREETS. 

street  became  the  permanent  abode  of  the  Mer 
chants'  Exchange  and  the  financial  center  of  the 
city. 

Many  of  the  cross  streets  below  City  Hall  Park 
were  narrow  and  crooked,  and  not  as  they  appear  at 
present.  In  1814:  Fair  (now  Fulton)  street,  was  cut 
through  from  Cliff  street  to  Water  street,  making  it 
as  it  appears  at  present.  Many  streets  in  the  old 
part  of  the  city  have  been  widened  or  straightened, 
or  extended  since  that  time,  and  the  names  of  many 
of  them  changed.  West  street  has  been  entirely 
formed  since  then  by  filling  in.  The  docks  and  boat 
landings  in  1812-15,  on  the  Hudson  River,  were  on 
Washington  street. 

-  Sidewalks  were  of  brick,  few  were  stone ;  the  end 
of  the  pavement  on  Broadway  was  at  Anthony  (now 
Worth)  street/    The  sidewalk  was  up  to  Leonard 
street.     In  August,  1813,  there  was  an  ordinance  for 
the  paving  of  Broadway  from  Worth  street  to  Canal 
street  bridge.    It  was  not  completed  until  1316.  From 
Sugar  Loaf  (now  Franklin)  street  people  used  to 
cross  down  through  open  lots  to  the  west  side  of  the 
city.     There  were  only  two  crossings  of  Canal  street: 
one  was  the  bridge  at  Broadway,  the  other  was  at 
Greenwich  street.   *  Canal  street  from  Hudson  River 
to  Centre  street  was  an  open  sewer,  and  not  a  single 
house  on  its  borders.*     On  the  west  side  of  Broad 
way  the  house  numbers  stopped  at  415.     On  the  east 
side  of  Broadway  the  numbers  stopped  at  428. 

•  There    were    only    a    few    scattering     buildings 
above  Canal  street,  which  w  is  crossed  at  Broadway 
by  a  stone  bridge.1    All  the  upper   part  of  the  city 
was  very  irregular  in  surface  and  had  many  hills 


STYLE   OF  BUILDINGS.  37 

and  hollows.  On  the  line  of  the  Bowery  it  was  built 
up  as  far  as  Houston  street,  then  called  North  street. 
Amity  street,  on  the  west  side  of  Broadway,  and 
North  street,  on  the  east  side,  were  regarded  as  the 
extent  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city.  The  house 
numbers  on  the  east  side  of  Bowery  stopped  at 
No.  300,  and  those  on  the  west  side  at  270.  Those 
residing  above  these  boundaries  were  regarded  as 
country  residents. 

The  district  on  the  East  River,  composed  of  the 
populous  portions  of  the  Seventh  and  Tenth  Wards, 
contained  about  25,000  persons,  and  was  bounded  on 
the  north  by  North  street,  the  Bowery  on  the  west, 
and  Catharine  street  on  the  south. 
» The  houses  in  the  city  were  estimated  at  about 
sixteen  thousand  and  were  mostly  built  of  wood, 
except  in  the  lower  and  most  business  portion  of  the 
city,  where  the  large  ones  were  of  red  brick,  with 
slate  roofs  ;•  tin  roofs  were  unknown  at  that  time.* 
They  were  usually  three  stories  high,  with  low 
basement  used  as  kitchen  or  cellar ;  the  upper 
story  was  rude  dormer  windows  protruding  towards 
the  street  from  the  peaked  roof.' 

The  more  pretentious  dwelling  usually  had  a  flat 
part  on  the  middle  of  the  roof  and  had  railing  around 
it;  from  this  the  roof  slanted  each  way  to  the  front 
and  rear.  Many  of  the  brick  buildings  of  the  fashion 
of  that  day  are  still  standing. 

There  was  very  little  restriction  in  building  to  pre 
vent  fires  prior  to  June,  1812.  The  act  of  April, 
1796,  which  existed  up  to  that  time,  provided  that  in 

*  A.  W.  Spies  told  the  writer  that  not  one  house  in  six  were  brick 
in  1817. 


38  FIRE  LIMITS. 


the  fire  limits,  which  were  then  defined,  every  house 
thereafter  built  (except  steeples,  cupolas,  and  spires 
of  churches  and  public  buildings)  being  more  than 
twenty-five  feet  front  or  rear  to  the  foot  of  the  raft 
ers  should  be  made  or  constructed  of  stone  or  brick, 
with  party  or  fire  walls  being  twelve  inches  above 
the  roof,  and  covered,  except  the  flat  roof  thereof, 
with  tile  or  slate  or  other  safe  materials  against 
fire,  and  not  with  boards  or  shingles,  except  the  flat 
space  thereof,  which  should  not  exceed  two-fifths  of 
the  space  of  the  roof ;  but  buildings  then  already 
erected  and  then  covered  with  boards  or  shingles 
could  be  re-covered  or  repaired  with  boards  or 
shingles.  At  that  time  the  population  of  the  city 
was  only  about  40,000. 

The  fire  limits  of  the  city  as  prescribed  by  the 
law  of  April  1,  1812,  made  it  obligatory  that  dwell 
ing  houses,  storehouses,  and  other  buildings  there 
after  to  be  erected  within  the  following  bound 
aries,  should  be  made  and  constructed  of  stone  or 
brick,  with  party  or  fire  walls  rising  at  least  six 
inches  above  the  roof,  and  should  be  covered,  except 
the  flat  roof  thereof,  with  tile  or  slate,  or  other  safe 
materials  against  fire,  and  not  with  boards  or 
shingles. 

The  district  was  bounded  as  follows:  All  that  part 
of  the  city  lying  and  being  north  of  a  line  beginning 
on  the  westerly  shore  of  East  River,  opposite  Mont 
gomery  street,  thence  through  Montgomery  street 
to  Cherry  street ;  thence  down  Cherry  street  to 
Eoosevelt  street  ;  through  Roosevelt  to  Chatham 
street;  down  Chatham  to  Chambers  street;  through 
Chambers  street  to  Broadway,  up  Broadway  to 


CITY  HALL  PARK.  39 

Canal  street,  commencing  again  at  Chambers  street 
and  running  west  to  Hudson  River,  including  lots 
on  both  sides  of  the  streets.* 

»  Wooden  houses  were  either  painted  red  or  white,  if 
painted  at  all,  and  when  white  the  back  of  them 
was  painted  red.  »  The  City  Hall  is  still  a  monument 
of  that  fashion,  for  the  back  of  it  was  made  of  red 
sandstone,  while  the  front  was  of  white  marble 
It  was  covered  with  sheet  copper.  It  was  then  so 
completely  surrounded  by  public  buildings  in  the 
park,  and  for  more  than  twenty-five  years  after 
wards,  that  the  back  of  it  could  scarcely  be  observed 
from  the  streets. 

The  City  Hall  Park  was  described  by  a  writer  of 
the  period  as  ua  piece  of  inclosed  ground  in  front  of 
the  new  City  Hall,  consisting  of  about  four  acres, 
planted  with  elms,  pines,  willows,  and  catalpas,  the 
surrounding  foot  walks  encompassed  with  rows  of 
poplars.  .  .  .  Though  the  trees  are  young  and  of 
few  years'  growth,  the  park  may  be  pronounced  an 
elegant  and  improving  place. " 

The  park  was  surrounded  by  a  common  wooden 
picket  fence,  and  was  virtually  confined  to  only  that 
part  of  it  that  lay  south  of  the  City  Hall  and  extend 
ing  from  Broadway  on  the  west  to  Chatham  Row 
now  Park  Row),  on  the  east,  and  terminated  at 
the  junction  of  Chatham  Row  with  Broadway  on 
the  south.  The  part  north  of  City  Hall  was  occu 
pied  by  various  public  buildings. 

*  The  number  of  fires  and  alarms  for  each  of  the  following  years, 
stated  by  Costello,  were  : 

1810  .         .         19  alarms       .         .        25  fires. 

1811  27  "  26  " 

1812  '..*"'•  ,':•;..        23  "  .        .        20  " 

1813  .        .        39  "  .         .        37  " 

1814  32  "  29  " 


40  ALMS  HO  USE  AND  PEISONS. 

The  City  Hall  was  not  quite  completed,  but  had 
been  occupied  in  part  since  July  4,  1811.  In  it 
were  located  the  chief  city  offices,  and  the  State  and 
city  courts  were  held  there.  In  the  cupola  was  a 
bell,  smaller  than  the  usual  church  bell,  which  rung 
on  court  days  to  summon  attendance  at  the  opening 
or  convening  of  the  principal  courts. 

The  jail,  being  the  debtors'  prison;  the  Bridewell, 
being  the  city  prison;  the  Almshouse,  and  a  fire  en 
gine  house,  were  in  the  park  by  the  side  of  or  back 
of  the  City  Hall. 

The  jail  (now  the  Hall  of  Eecords),  in  the  park, 
near  Chatham  street,  was  three  stories  high,  with 
a  belfry  rising  from  the  center.  This  belfry  con 
tained  the  fire  alarm  bell,  which  was  the  first  to 
ring  in  case  of  fire.  When  this  sounded,  then  all 
the  church  bells  began  to  ring,  and  the  firemen  and 
citizens  hastened  to  the  place  of  the  fire,  guided 
only  by  the  moving  throng  and  the  smoke. 

The  almshouse  stood  behind  the  City  Hall  on  the 
north  side  of  the  park  and  fronting  Chambers 
street.  It  was  260  feet  long  by  44  feet  broad,  with 
two  projections  in  front  15  by  20  feet.  It  was  built 
of  brick  and  was  three  stories  high,  besides  base 
ment  story,  and  was  covered  with  slate.  In  front 
of  it  was  quite  a  space  of  ground,  and  in  the  rear 
were  walks  behind  the  City  Hall.  It  had  about  800 
inmates.  In.  1816,  when  the  paupers  were  removed 
to  Belle vue,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  New  York 
Institution,  and  was  occupied  by  museums,  socie 
ties,  etc. 

The  Bridewell  stood  in  the  park  on  the  west  side 
of  the  City  Hall,  near  Broadway,  fronting  south. 
It  was  a  substantial  structure  of  gray  stone,  two 


COLUMBIA    COLLEGE.  41 

stories  high  besides  the  basement.  There  was  a 
pediment  in  the  front  and  in  the  rear,  which  was  a 
story  higher  than  the  other  parts  of  the  building. 
It  had  a  row  of  five  windows  in  each  story  of  the 
wing,  and  two  windows  each  side  the  door  on  the 
south  front,  and  a  row  of  five  windows  in  each  of  the 
two  upper  stories  of  the  pediment.  The  end  of  each 
wing  had  three  windows  in  each  story.  It  was 
enlarged  after  the  war.  In  the  basement  was  a 
hospital  for  the  sick,  and  cells  for  confining  the 
refractory  and  those  under  sentence  of  death. 
Persons  held  for  trial  could  be  seen  and  the  place 
visited  every  day  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  at  one  o'clock  and  at  half-past  six  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  The  courts  for  trials  were  held  quar 
terly.  The  white  and  colored  prisoners  were  kept 
separate. 

Columbia  College  had  quite  extensive  grounds. 
They  covered  two  blocks,  extending  from  Murray 
street  to  Barclay,  and  from  Church  street  to  Chapel 
street  (now  College  place).  The  street  from  Broad 
way  was  called  Robinson  street  and  Park  Place. 
There  were  two  buildings  occupied  by  the  college. 
The  main  one  was  built  in  1760,  and  was  of  lime- 
stone^  three  stories  and  basement,  and  was  180  feet 
long  by  30  feet  deep,  fronted  to  the  south,  and  was 
north  of  the  line  of  Park  Place  and  parallel  thereto. 
The  other  one,  near  Chapel  street,  fronted  east. 
The  open  space  of  ground  in  front  was  more  than 
one  acre  in  extent,  and  called  "The  College 
Green." 

There  were  many  points  of  elevation  in  the  city, 
between  Chambers,  Amity,  and  North  streets,  where 
unobstructed  and  extensive  views  could  be  had  of 


42  PLAN  FOR  STREETS. 

the  surrounding  country  and  of  both  shores  of  the 
Hudson  and  East  rivers,  and  full  view  of  the  bay 
and  harbor.  The  New  York  Hospital,  on  Broadway 
and  Anthony  (now  Worth)  street,  was  claimed  to  be 
the  highest  point  upon  which  any  building  was  then 
erected. 

*  The  poplar  tree  was  much  used  as  an  ornamental 
tree  along  streets  and  lanes  and  in  "door  yards." 
Broadway  was  literally  lined  by  them  on  both  sides, 
from  Bowling  Green  to  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor,  now 
Tenth  street.'  In  1809,  when  Broadway  was  being 
permanently  regulated  and  graded  from  Leonard 
street  to  Art  street  (now  Astor  place),  Mr.  Samuel 
Burling  offered  to  provide  as  many  of  theLombardy 
poplar  trees  as  might  be  necessary  to  line  Broad 
way  from  Leonard  street  to  Art  street,  provided 
the  corporation  would  move  and  set  them  without 
expense  to  him.  This  liberal  offer  was  accepted,  it 
being  concluded  by  the  corporation  that  the  ar 
rangement  "  would  be  an  additional  beauty  to 
Broadway,  the  pride  of  our  city." 

The  city  was  laid  out  in  streets  only  up  to  Green 
wich  Lane  (now  Clinton  place  and  Greenwich 
avenue).  The  commissioners  appointed  to  lay  out 
streets  and  roads  under  the  act  of  April  3,  1807, 
made  their  report  on  March  22,  1811,  whereby 
streets,  etc.,  were  laid  out  above  North  street  on 
the  east  side  and  Clinton  Place  and  Greenwich  ave 
nue  on  the  west  side,  as  they  are  now  known,  up 
to  One  Hundred  and  Fifty -fifth  street.  In  their  re 
port  accompanying  the  maps  and  surveys  the  com 
missioners  say  : 

' '  To  some  it  may  be  a  matter  of  surprise  that  the 
whole  island  has  not  been  laid  out  as  a  city.  To 


OUTER    WARDS.  43 


others  it  may  be  a  subject  of  merriment  that  the 
commissioners  have  provided  space  for  a  greater 
population  than  is  collected  at  any  spot  on  this 
side  of  China.  They  have  in  this  respect  been 
governed  by  the  shape  of  the  ground.  It  is  not  im 
probable  that  considerable  numbers  may  be  collected 
at  Harlem  before  the  high  hills  to  the  southward  of 
it  shall  be  built  upon  as  a  city  ;  and  it  is  improbable 
that  (for  centuries  to  come)  the  grounds  north  of 
Harlem  Flat  will  be  covered  with  houses.  To  have 
come  short  of  the  extent  laid  out  might  therefore 
have  defeated  just  expectations  ;  and  to  have  gone 
further  might  have  furnished  materials  to  the 
pernicious  spirit  of  speculation." 

The  names  of  the  commissioners  were  Gouverneur 
Morris,  Simeon  De  Witt,  and  John  Rutherford. 

Their  plan  did  not  retain  Bloomingdale  road 
above  Twenty- third  street,  nor  have  Madison  or 
Lexington  avenues  in  it. 

The  Ninth  Ward  was  one  of  the  "  outer  wards." 
It  was  all  that  part  of  the  city  above  Love  Lane 
(now  Twenty-first  street)  and  east  and  west  of 
Bloomingdale  road,  and  came  down  on  the  east  cide 
of  the  Bowery  to  Stuy vesant  street  and  on  a  line  to 
East  River.  The  population  of  this  ward  was  less 
than  half  that  of  any  other.  It  contained  almost 
one- third  less  inhabitants  in  1816  than  in  1810. 

The  grounds  of  the  Elgin  Botanic  Garden,  owned 
by  the  State,  covered  twenty  acres,  and  were  from 
Forty-seventh  street  to  Fifty-first  street,  and  from 
Fourth  avenue  to  Sixth  avenue.  The  paths  and 
walks  were  tastefully  laid  out,  and  ornamented  by 
plants,  flowers,  etc.  The  conservatories  and  hot 
houses  were  between  Fiftieth  and  Fifty-first  streets, 


44  PRIVATE  DINNER  PARTIES. 

Fifth  and  Sixth  avenues,  and  had  a  front  of  180  feet. 
The  whole  were  inclosed  by  a  well- constructed 
stone  wall,  lined  all  round  by  a  belt  of  forest  trees 
and  shrubs. 

Four  o'clock  was  usually  the  fashionable  hour  for 
dining.  The  gentlemen  always  drank  wine,  but 
not  to  great  excess.  At  private  dinner  parties  they 
would  sit  about  two  hours  drinking  wine. 

The  drinking  of  toasts  at  public  dinners  was  a 
very  common  method  of  expressing  political  opin 
ions,  and  of  venting  party  spleen,  and  of  "  drinking 
destruction "  to  their  enemies.  The  newspapers 
published  long  lists  of  these  toasts  as  so  many 
proofs  of  patriotism  and  virtue.  Money  was 
scarce,  prices  low,  credit  good,  and  plenty  of  pure 
wines  and  liquors  for  sale  on  easy  terms.  Each 
householder  had  a  good  supply  for  himself  and  his 
neighbors  and  friends. 

In  1811  there  were  thirteen  hundred  and  three 
groceries  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  taverns  licens 
ed  to  sell  "  strong  drink"  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
Hospitality  and  good-fellowship  were  the  order  of 
the  day. 

The  social  condition  of  New  York  City  had  grown 
up  out  of  its  former  political  conditions.  It  had 
been  the  capital  of  the  State  from  the  close  of  the 
Kevolution  until  1807,  and  had  been  the  first  capital 
of  the  nation  at  a  time  when  social  and  public  fes 
tivities  and  entertainments  were  regarded  as  among 
the  most  important  duties  that  public  positions 
gave,  and  when  private  fortunes  in  connection  with 
the  social  duties  required  were  always  considered. 

*  It  was  not  given  to  Columbia  College  until  July,  1814. 


PUBLIC  ENTERTAINMENTS.  45 

Many  wealthy  foreign  merchants  residing  in  New 
York  helped  keep  up  this  custom  by  frequently 
giving  elaborate  dinners  or  balls  to  distinguished 
personages  that  visited  this  country. 

The  Common  Council  of  the  city,  excepting  the 
Mayor  and  the  Recorder,  held  their  office  without 
pay  from  the  city  (except  when  they  performed  some 
judicial  office).  Their  perquisites  and  compensation 
consisted  in  the  power  and  custom  of  making  appro 
priations  for  refreshments  for  themselves  when  they 
met,  and  for  public  dinners,  as  they  were  called,  at 
the  expense  of  the  city,  at  which  they  were  always 
the  self-invited  guests,  and  getting  in  return  compli 
mentary  invitations  to  great  dinners  given  by  other 
persons. 

During  the  first  year  or  two  of  the  war  the  num 
ber  and  extent  of  these  public  dinners  and  entertain 
ments  were  frequent,  but  they  were  soon  after  con 
fined  more  to  associations  and  private  persons,  in 
which  case  the  political  opinions  of  the  entertainers 
controlled  the  selection  of  the  invited  guests;  or,  if 
invited  out  of  compliment,  it  controlled  the  presence 
of  those  invited,  as  one  was  not  expected  to  attend 
contrary  to  his  political  or  party  convictions;  and 
again,  if  he  was  officially  prominent,  he  would  prob 
ably  be  called  upon  for  a  toast  or  to  respond  to  a 
toast  that  would  give  him  an  opportunity  to  show 
his  political  opinion  on  the  important  questions  of  the 
day.  Invitations  were  often  sent  to  persons  who 
resided  a  long  distance  from  New  York. 

On  public  and  political  occasions  the  number  of 
toasts  were  usually  equal  to  the  number  of  the 
States,  which  was  then  eighteen.  The  volunteer 
toasts,  when  given,  varied  in  number  from  one  to 


46  MANNERS   OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

nine.  During  the  war  the  political  character  of  the 
dinners  was  displayed  by  the  Federalists  having 
only  thirteen  regular  toasts,  corresponding  to  the 
original  number  of  the  States  ;  the  Democrats,  at 
their  dinners,  had  eighteen  toasts. 

The  manners  of  the  people  were  remarkably 
agreeable  and  refined.  In  a  semi-centennial  sermon 
preached  on  March  18,  I860,  by  Rev.  Wm.  Berrian, 
D.D.,  of  Trinity,  reviewing  some  of  the  changes  in 
New  York  City  since  he  was  ordained  deacon, 
March  18,  1810,  in  St.  John's  Chapel,  he  said  : 

"  Within  my  own  recollection  and  observation, 
while  no  servile  respect  was  paid  by  any  to  rank 
or  wealth,  yet  the  distinctions  of  society  were 
more  marked  and  observed,  and  all  were  happier 
for  contentment  with  their  lot.  Those  who 
were  at  the  head  of  it  were  not  merely  hon 
ored  for  their  wealth,  but  for  their  descent 
from  those  who  were  honored  before  them,  for 
their  achievements  in  battle,  their  eloquence  in 
debate,  their  wisdom  in  council,  or  the  elevated 
positions  which  they  filled  and  adorned.  Both  in 
their  private  intercourse  and  on  festive  occasions 
there  was  a  degree  of  courtliness,  refinement,  and 
grace,  the  inheritance  from  their  fathers  of  a  by 
gone  day,  which  in  the  present  is,  in  many  cases, 
not  even  observed  by  their  sons.  The  persons 
below  them,  the  honest  burghers  and  respectable 
citizens,  who  had  their  own  claims  to  respect,  were 
neither  jealous  of  those  above  them  nor  ambitious 
to  imitate  them.  Each  class  lived  in  its  own  way, 
with  a  becoming  elegance  and  splendor  in  one  case, 
and  with  a  modesty  and  simplicity  in  the  other, 
which  would  set  modern  pretension  to  shame." 


STREET   CRIES.  47 


The  streets  were  swept  twice  a  week  by  the  in 
habitants,  each  one  opposite  his  own  house,  and  for 
the  collection  of  garbage  a  bell-cart  came  round 
daily  in  each  street.  The  bell-man,  as  the  scavenger 
was  called,  was  a  noisy  and  often  entertaining  per 
sonage.  In  cadence  with  his  bell  he  would  give 
forth  various  songs  and  choruses. 

1  The  city  was  lighted  by  lamps  with  whale  oil. 
Rooms  were  heated  by  open  fire-places  and  stoves. 
Wood  was  chiefly  used  for  fuel.  It  was  hickory, 
walnut,  chestnut,  and  pine,  and  was  brought 
mostly  from  Suffolk  county  on  boats.  Some  Vir 
ginia  bituminous  coal  was  used.*  It  was  advertised 
in  1812,  as  "good  to  burn  in  grates  ";  it  was  more 
expensive  than  wood,  and  was  sold  from  the  boats 
which  brought  it  in  port. 

The  chimneys  were  swept  by  small  negro  boys, 
whose  cries  in  the  morning  at  daybreak,  were  any 
thing  but  agreeable.  The  streets  would  ring  with 
the  cries  of  "  Sweep,  ho!  sweep,  ho!  From  the  bottom 
to  the  top,  without  a  ladder  or  a  rope — sweep,  ho  !" 
to  which  a  chorus  or  a  cry  were  often  added,  dulcet 
sounds  of  real  harmony.  They  were  licensed  by  the 
city  and  their  charges  regulated  by  city  ordinance. 
•  The  bakers  used  to  take  around  baskets  of  bread, 
which  some  carried  bodily  on  one  shoulder,  held  by 
a  handle  on  one  end  ;  others  had  them  in  an  oblong 
hand  wagon  containing  about  half  a  dozen  baskets. £ 
Their  cry  was  "Bread!"  when  family  bread  alone 
was  used,  but  for  cakes  they  had  various  cries,  in 
cluding  tea-rusk,  and  hot-cross  buns  and  ginger 
bread.  The  milkmen  then  went  on  foot  and  usually 
wore  a  yoke  across  their  shoulders,  from  each  end 
of  which  was  suspended  by  a  chain  a  large  tin  pail 


48  WATER  SUPPLY. 


filled  with  milk  and  tightly  covered.  Their  cry  was 
originally  "  Milk,  ho!"  but  it  degenerated  into 
various  peculiar  sounds  which  their  customers  alone 
understood. 

The  servants  were  mostly  negroes  or  mulattoes, 
some  free  and  others  slaves.  There  were  many 
mulattoes  from  the  West  Indies  and  had  French 
blood  in  them.  There  were  also  many  white  servants 
of  both  sexes,  and,  says  an  observant  Englishman 
of  the  time,  "they  who  expect  to  see  a  pure  re 
publican  equality  in  America  will  find  themselves 
greatly  deceived." 

The  supply  of  water  was  mostly  obtained  from 
the  Manhattan  Company,  which  was  incorporated 
in  1799,  and  distributed  by  bored  wooden  logs  being 
laid  underground  from  a  reservoir  in  Chambers 
street,  and  from  there  obtained  by  means  of  pumps 
and  wells,  which  were  located  in  the  middle  of  the 
streets  up  to  1807,  but  were  then  removed  to  the 
sidewalk  in  some  of  the  most  crowded  streets.  The 
water  before  1800  was  generally  bad  and  scarce. 
The  most  esteemed  was  that  from  what  was  called 
the  Tea  Water  Pump,  which  was  in  Orange,  near 
Chatham  street.  The  water  from  this  pump  was 
of  superior  quality,  and  was  taken  from  it  into 
hogsheads  on  carts  and  from  them  delivered  to  the 
inhabitants  in  various  parts  of  the  city  for  a  specific 
price. 

The  Manhattan  Company  had  all  the  public 
springs,  streams,  and  sources  of  water  supply,  that 
formerly  belonged  to  the  city,  within  its  control  by 
its  charter,  and  was  to  supply  the  inhabitants  with 
good,  wholesome  water.  The  company's  works  were 
in  Eeade  street,  where  a  steam  engine  pumped  the 


MODES  OF  DEE8S.  49 

water  into  the  reservoir  in  Chambers  street.  In  the 
early  part  of  May,  1812,  it  appears  in  the  newspapers 
that  they  had  not  supplied  any  water  for  five  weeks. 
Such  complaints  were  frequent.  The  Manhattan 
water  works  "were  in  full  operation  for  some  years 
prior  to  May  1,  1807".  Their  report  for  the  year 
ending  May  1,  1808,  showed  $18,561  receipts.  They 
then  supplied  2,316  houses  and  places  with  wells 
and  cisterns.  There  were  also  private  cisterns  of 
rain  water  in  use.  No  need  for  further  extension 
was  required  by  the  growth  of  the  city  until  several 
years  after  the  close  of  the  war.  The  rate  for  a 
house  with  from  one  to  three  fires  was  five  dollars 
per  year,  and  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  for  each 
extra  fire. 

The  dress  of  fashionable  ladies  was  mostly  after 
the  light,  varied,  and  dashing  drapery  of  Parisian 
belles,  while  the  less  pretentious  was  a  modification 
and  blending  of  the  English  and  French  costume. 
The  gentlemen  dressed  generally  in  every  respect 
with  the  English  costume  for  full  dress.  Most  of 
them  had  their  clothing  imported  from  England 
previous  to  the  war  of  1812.  Many  of  the  men  who 
were  survivors  of  Revolutionary  times  adhered  to 
the  costumes  of  that  day,  and  wore  "smallclothes" 
and  cocked  hat,  and  hair  in  queues  similar  to  those 
usually  associated  with  Franklin  and  Washington. 
The  statue  of  Gen.  Hamilton,  in  the  Central  Park, 
gives  a  good  representation  of  the  dress  of  his  day. 
Some  wore  white-top,  short-leg  boots  instead  of 
shoes,  with  breeches.  The  stockings  were  white  or 
black,  as  fancy  dictated.  When  Nathan  Sanford,  of 
New  York  City,  afterwards  State  Chancellor,  was 
Speaker  of  the  New  York  Assembly  in  1811,  he  pre- 


50  LEADING  HOTELS, 

sided  with  a  cocked  hat  on,  the  same  as  all  his  pre 
decessors  had  done ;  he  was  the  last  one  that  pre 
sided  in  that  manner. 

There  were  some  that  still  adhered  to  the  old 
Dutch  custom  of  dress  of  their  ancestors.  This  dress, 
for  men,  was  light  hreeches  extending  just  below  the 
knee,  woolen  stockings,  buckles  at  the  knee  and  on 
the  heavy  shoes,  body  coat  with  large  pockets  and 
buttons,  a  white  stock  buckled  behind,  a  plain,  neat 
shirt  with  sleeve  buttons,  hah  powdered,  a  long,  un- 
braided  queue,  and  °  broad-brimmed  beaver  hat 
with  low  crown. 

The  City  Hotel  on  Broadway,  corner  of  Cedar 
streety  was  the  most  extensive  building  of  that  de 
scription  in  New  York.  The  ground  floor  was  oc 
cupied  by  stores.  It  was  where  the'Boreel  Building 
now  stands. 

Mechanics'  Hall  was  another  large  hotel  and  hall, 
corner  of  Broadway  and  Kobinson  street  (now  Park 
Place.) 

The  principal  hotels  in  the  city  were,  according 
to  their  standing,  as  follows  : 

City  Hotel,  Broadway,  corner  of  Cedar  street. 

Merchants'  Hotel,  Wall  street. 

Mechanics'  Hall,  Broadway,  corner  of  Park  Place. 

Tontine  Coffee  House,  Wall  street,  corner  of 
Water  street, 

Phoenix  Coffee  House,  Wall  street,  opposite  the 
Tontine. 

Bank  Coffee  House,  Nassau  street. 

Tammany  Hall,  Nassau  street,  corner  of  Frank 
fort,  opened  in  1812. 

Washington  Hall,  Broadway,  opened  in  January, 
1813. 


THEATRES,  ETC.  51 


Washington  Hotel,  "Fraunce's  Tavern,"  Broad 
street. 

The  Commercial  Hotel,  Pearl  street,  was  patron 
ized  mostly  by  French  and  Spanish. 

At  that  time  there  was  only  one  recognized 
theatre,  the  old  "Park  Theatre,"  built  in  1798  at  23 
Park  Eow.  There  was  on  Anthony  (now  Worth) 
street,  near  Broadway,  a  hall,  formerly  used  as  a 
circus  fitted  up  and  called  the  New  Olympic 
Theatre,  which  opened  May  20,  1812.  The  New 
York  Circus  had  removed  to  Broadway,  corner  of 
White  street. 

Performances  at  the  Park  Theatre  were  only  three 
times  a  week — Mondays,  Wednesdays,  and  Fridays — 
and  commenced  at  half  past  six  P.M.  The  season 
opened  from  the  1st  to  the  15th  of  September,  and 
closed  on  the  4th  of  July.  The  best  actors  were  en 
gaged  there.  The  admission  was  one  dollar  for  box 
seat,  seventy-five  cents  for  pit,  and  fifty  cents  for 
gallery.  It  was  not  open  six  nights  in  a  week  until 
after  the  war. 

Among  other  places  of  amusement  and  occasional 
theatrical  representations  was  Scudders  American 
Museum,  No.  21  Chatham  street,  opposite  Tryoii 
Eow.  The  Circular  Panorama,  containing  a  variety 
of  scenes  and  views,  was  in  the  Broadway  Circus 
building.  The  New  Koman  Museum  of  Wax  Figures 
was  on  Park  Row  next  to  the  theatre. 

Some  other  like  places  were  opened  from  time  to 
time  during  the  war. 

The  theatre,  the  Old  Park,  contained  a  large  din 
ing  hall  and  good-sized  lobbies,  and  would  seat 
twelve  hundred  persons. 

The  summer  garden,   Vauxhall,  kept  by  Joseph 


52  VKUXHALL  GARDEN. 

Delacroix,  was  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Bowery  almost  two  miles  from  Wall  street,  opposite 
Avhere  Cooper  Institute  now  stands.  It  was  a  neat 
garden,  with  gravel  walks  adorned  with  shrubs, 
trees,  busts  and  statues.  In  the  center  was  a  large 
equestrian  statue  of  General  Washington.  The 
theatrical  corps  of  New  York  were  chiefly  engaged 
at  Vauxhall  during  the  summer.  Light  musical 
pieces,  interludes,  etc.,  were  performed  in  a  small 
theatre  situated  in  one  corner  of  the  garden.  The 
audience  sat  in  the  pit  and  boxes  in  the  open  air. 
The  orchestra  was  built  among  the  trees,  and  a  large 
apparatus  was  for  the  display  of  fireworks,  which 
were  elaborate  and  brilliant  when  the  occasion  re 
quired.  On  the  Fourth  of  July  there  was  always  an 
extraordinary  display. 

The  grounds  extended  from  Great  Jones  street  to 
Art  street  (now  Astor  place),  and  from  the  Bowery 
road'  to  Broadway.  The  hall  was  on  the  Bowery, 
and  there  was  also  an  entrance  to  the  garden  from 
Broadway. 

There  was  another  large  hotel  and  garden,  known 
as  Mount  Pitt,  or  Kanelagh.  It  commanded  some 
extensive  and  beautiful  views  of  the  city  and  har 
bor.  It  was  on  an  eminence  near  the  junction  of 
Grand  street  with  Division  street,  near  Ridge  street, 
where  there  were  still  the  remains  of  a  battery 
erected  on  the  hill  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
In  front  of  Mount  Pitt,  and  back  of  the  Belvedere 
Club  house,  were  the  remains  of  an  intreiichmeiit 
made  by  the  British  in  1781  across  the  island  west 
from  Corlear's  Hook  by  Bayard's  Hill  to  Lispeiiard's 
brewery,  near  the  salt  meadows,  to  defend  the  city 
and  garrison  against  the  American  army. 


DANCING  PARTIES.  53 

The  Belvedere  Club  house  was  several  hundred 
feet  to  the  southeast  of  Mount  Pitt.  It  was  a  fine, 
large  building  erected  before  the  Eevolutionary  war, 
and  stood  on  the  block  now  bounded  by  Montgom 
ery,  Clinton,  Monroe,  and  Cherry  streets. 

The  Mansion  House  at  Greenwich  was  a  favorite 
place  for  dinners  for  clubs,  associations,  etc. 

In  the  summer  of  1812  there  was  occasionally 
music  after  supper,  at  about  6:30  P.M.,  at  the  Bat 
tery  flagstaff,  or  from  a  band  located  in  a  boat. 
Different  bands  volunteered  for  such  occasions.  One 
of  the  most  attractive  mentioned  at  the  time  was 
Moffat's  military  band  of  the  second  regiment  of 
artillery.  Sometimes  the  music  would  be  from  the 
"  portico  of  the  flagstaff."  The  flagstaff  was  about 
one  hundred  feet  high  and  stood  at  the  southeast 
part  of  the  Battery  parade,  and  was  surrounded  by 
an  octagon  enclosure  of  boards,  with  seats  inside  and 
a  roof  to  shelter  from  the  weather.  Befreshments 
and  drinks  were  served  from  the  building.  A  large 
flag,  belonging  to  the  city,  was  displayed  from  this 
pole  at  appropriate  times. 

The  winters  were  passed  in  a  round  of  entertain 
ments  and  amusements  at  the  theatre,  public  assem 
blies,  scientific  lectures,  concerts,  balls,  tea  and  card 
parties,  and  sleighing  excursions  out  of  the  city. 
The  invited  party  proceeded  to  some  hotel  or  tavern 
out  of  town  on  one  of  the  old  roads,  where  the  en 
tertainment  was  kept  up  until  a  late  hour,  when  the 
parties  returned  home  by  torchlight. 

There  was  a  fashionable  dancing  club,  called  the 
City  Assembly,  which  was  held  at  the  City  Hotel. 
None  but  the  first  class  of  society  could  become  sub 
scribers  to  this  assembly.  The  subscription  was 


HO  LID  A  Y  SEASON. 


two  dollars  and  a  half  each  night,  and  included  tea, 
coffee,  and  cold  collation.  There  were  several 
French  and  English  gentlemen  members  of  it.  The 
dances  were  cotillions,  alternating  with  the  contra 
dances.  A  new  dancing  club  was  formed  of  the 
second  class  of  genteel  people,  who  were  shut  out  of 
the  other.  It  was  called  the  New  Assembly,  and 
the  subscription  was  three  dollars,  and  they  had 
their  balls  also  at  the  City  Hotel.  It  was  said  to  be 
well  conducted. 

The  day  of  solemn  thanksgiving  and  prayer  had 
formerly  been  designated  by  the  common  council 
of  the  city,  and  was  in  December,  but  the  observance 
of  a  day  for  that  purpose  had  been  abandoned  and 
was  not  observed  until  after  the  war.  Christmas 
was  regarded  as  a  day  for  religious  observances. 

New  Year's  day  was  the  most  important  of  the 
whole  year.  All  the  complimentary  visits,  fun  and 
merriment  of  the  season  seemed  to  be  reserved  for 
that  day.  The  mayor  of  the  city  and  many  others 
of  the  constituted  authorities  published  for  two  or 
three  days  before  that  they  would  reciprocate  the 
compliments  of  the  season  with  the  inhabitants  at 
their  residences  on  New  Year's  day.  At  these  re 
ceptions  a  table  was  spread,  laden  with  cakes,  wine 
and  punch  for  callers. 

The  bakers  distributed  gratuitously  to  their  cus 
tomers  small  cakes  made  in  variety  of  shapes  and 
figures. 

About  this  time,  the  essays  of  Salmagundi  ap 
peared,  which  gave  a  correct  picture  of  the  people 
of  New  York,  though  somewhat  heightened  by  car 
icature,  and  a  humorous  representation  of  their 
manners,  habits,  and  customs. 


SUBURBAN  RESIDENCES.  55 

Many  of  the  more  wealthy  inhabitants  had  out-of- 
town  residences  in  that  part  of  "  York  Island  "  situ 
ated  above  Canal  and  North  streets,  which  they  oc 
cupied  from  about  the  middle  of  May  to  first  of  Oc 
tober,  the  winter  season  being  spent  in  town.  Many 
had  country  residences  on  Long  Island.  Among 
them  were  Eufus  King,  Recorder  Richard  Riker, 
Gen.  Ebenezer  Stevens,  Nathan  Sanford,  Egbert 
Benson  and  Samuel  Jones. 

These  country  residences  were  built  back  from 
the  roadways  and  had  court  yards  and  lawns  with 
trees  and  shrubs  in  front  of  them. 

The  Fitzroy  and  Southampton  roads  ended  in 
Bloomingdale  road,  below  Love  Lane,  now  (1889) 
Twenty-first  street,  which  ran  from  Bloomingdale 
road  to  the  North  River. 

The  roads  from  the  city  to  the  upper  part  of  the 
island  were  the  Bowery  on  the  east,  Broadway  in 
the  center  as  far  as  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor  (now 
Tenth  street),  and  from  thence  Sandy  Lane  or  road 
where  it  joined  the  Bowery  at  about  Seventeenth 
street  and  Union  square,  and  then  continued  as 
Bloomingdale  road  (now  Broadway).  Greenwich 
road  was  a  continuation  of  Greenwich  street,  and 
crossed  Canal  street  by  a  bridge,  and  continued  to 
Greenwich  village  (now  Charltoii  street).  There 
were  two  lines  of  stages;  one  to  Greenwich  village 
up  Greenwich  road,  and  a  line  up  the  Bowery  to 
Harlem  by  the  Eastern  Post  road,  and  to  Manhattan- 
ville  by  the  Harlem  lane.  The  Harlem  stage  adver 
tised  in  the  daily  papers  in  1812  and  1813. 

Some  of  the  other  roads  then  were  the  Old  Boston 
road  or  Eastern  Post  road,  which  commenced  at  the 
Bloomingdale  road  at  Twenty-third  street  and  Fifth 


56  OLD  ROADS  AND  LANES. 

avenue,  where  now  (J889)  is  Madison  square,  and 
thence  ran  eastward  along  the  Rose  Hill  farm  and 
through  various  windings  and  turns  to  Harlem,  and 
crossed  the  river  at  what  is  now  (1889)  Third  Ave 
nue  Bridge. 

The  Middle  road  diverged  northward  from  the 
Eastern  Post  road  near  Twenty-ninth  street  and 
Fourth  avenue,  and  crossed  Murray's  Hill  and  con 
nected  with  Manhattan  (now  Fifth)  avenue  at  the 
Croton  reservoir  on  Forty-second  street,  and  contin 
ued  along  that  avenue  to  the  Eastern  Post  road  at 
Ninetieth  street,  and  at  Ninety-fourth  street  and 
Fifth  avenue  diverged  easterly  and  crossed  Harlem 
Creek  at  Fourth  avenue  and  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  street,  and  thence  led  in  a  straight  line  to 
Harlem  Bridge  at  Third  avenue. 

The  King's  Bridge  road  diverged  westerly  at  the 
crossing  of  the  Middle  road  by  the  Eastern  Post 
road  at  Ninety-second  street,  and  continued  along 
the  Eastern  Post  road  through  McGowan's  Pass  to 
Harlem  lane  near  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  street 
and  so  on  to  Manhattanville. 

There  were  several  other  roads  and  lanes  that 
branched  off  these  roads  at  various  points  above 
Twenty-third  street. 

Brooklyn  village  at  that  time  covered  about  one 
mile  square  and  was  a  small  unincorporated  village 
of  about  three  hundred  small  houses  and  about  1,500 
inhabitants.  Its  manufactories  were  two  gin  distil 
leries,  that  sent  about  six  hundred  pipes  of  gin  an 
nually  to  New  York;  three  rope  walks,  that  annually 
made  about  one  thousand  tons  of  cordage  ;  two 
paint  factories  and  a  manufactory  of  cotton  and 
linen  cloths  and  a  cotton  packing  apparatus ; 


SUBURBAN  VILLAGES.  57 

a  weekly  newspaper,  The  Long  Island  Star,  and  a 
book  printing  establishment. 

Jersey  City  was  then  known  as  Powles'  Hook,  and 
was  not  recognized  as  a  village.  All  the  mail  stages 
south  from  New  York  did  not  start  from  there.  It 
did  not  have  half  a  dozen  houses  in  1812.  It  had  a 
tavern  and  a  store. 

Hoboken  was  smaller  than  Powles'  Hook. 

The  first  steam  ferryboat  between  Jersey  City  and 
New  York  commenced  to  run  in  July,  1812.  It  was 
announced  that  on  July  24th  a  corps  of  flying  artil 
lery  crossed  in  the  boat  from  Powles'  Hook  (Jersey 
City)  at  four  trips.  The  first  brought  four  pieces  of 
artillery,  six-pounders  and  limbers,  four  ammuni 
tion  wagons,  twenty-seven  horses  and  forty  soldiers, 
besides  other  passengers. 

The  steam  ferry  to  Hoboken  was  first  started  in 
the  early  part  of  October,  1811,  and  an  entry  of  the 
fact  was  made  on  the  New  York  city  records  on 
October  llth,  1811. 

The  next  steam  ferry  was  from  New  York  to 
Powles'  Hook  in  July,  1812. 

Before  the  introduction  of  steam  ferryboats,  horse 
boats  and  barges  for  passengers  were  used.  In  1810 
it  was  required  by  law  that  the  owners  of  ferry 
boats  between  New  York  and  Long  Island  should 
at  all  times  in  the  months  of  May,  June,  July,  Au 
gust  and  September  have  their  boats  ready  for  pas 
sage  from  half  an  hour  before  sunrise  until  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  in  all  other  months  from 
sunrise  until  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  that 
no  passenger  should  be  detained  more  than  five 
minutes.  Passenger  barges  should  be  kept  at  all 
the  ferries  and  no  lumber  or  baggage  should  be  car- 


58  FERRYBOATS. 


ried  thereon.  Four  men  were  to  be  employed  to 
row  every  barge,  and  no  more  than  fourteen  passen 
gers  should  be  carried  at  a  time. 

The  law  of  April,  1813,  required  that  every  boat 
employed  as  a  ferry  between  New  York  city  and 
the  island  of  Nassau  (Long  Island)  should  be  not 
less  than  twenty- two  feet  long  nor  less  than  five  and 
one-half  feet  in  breadth,  and  that  there  should  be  not 
less  than  two  men  to  row  in  every  boat,  and  that  no 
more  than  eighteen  passengers  should  be  admitted 
on  one  boat  at  one  time,  and  that  no  passenger 
should  be  kept  waiting  for  more  than  five  minutes 
within  certain  hours  of  the  day. 

There  was  a  rowboat  ferry  for  teams,  etc. ,  from 
the  foot  of  Delancey  street  to  Williamsburgh  land 
ing  at  North  Second  street,  which  was  then  called 
Bushwick  street.  This  was  the  old  Woodhull  ferry. 
The  Merrill  rowboat  ferry  from.  Grand  street,  Wil 
liamsburgh,  to  Grand  street,  New  York,  was  started 
some  time  in  1812,  in  opposition  to  the  Woodhull 
ferry,  and  was  called  the  ferry  to  Long  Island. 

There  was  a  tavern  and  one  house,  and  a  small 
store  on  the  Williamsburgh  side,  and  on  the  New 
York  side  the  Long  Island  farmer  was  near  the 
thickly  populated  district  about  Corlear's  Hook. 

Horse  ferryboats  were  run  by  horse  power,  ap 
plied  by  a  sort  of  horizontal  treadmill  wheel  on 
which  the  horses  were  made  to  tread.  They  were 
twin  boats  with  the  propelling  wheel  in  between 
them. 

This  was  the  kind  of  ferry  to  Brooklyn  prior  to 
August,  1814. 

In  1814  there  was  a  new  horse  ferryboat  put  in 
between  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  and  was 


LACK  OF  COMFORTS.  59 

operated  by  eight  horses.  The  paddle  wheel  was 
in  the  middle,  and  it  was  known  to  carry  more 
than  five  hundred  persons  at  one  time,  while  the 
fortifications  were  being  erected  in  Brooklyn. 

A  steam  ferryboat,  from  New  York  to  Brooklyn, 
started  in  August,  1814,  from  Fly  Market  and 
Burling  Slips.  The  names  of  the  three  Brooklyn 
steam  ferryboats  in  1814  were  Sail,  Decatur,  Long 
Island  Star. 

The  inhabitants  of  those  days  had  but  very  few 
of  the  comforts  that  we  now  have.  They  had  no 
"  stove  coal,"  no  hot-air  furnaces  for  heating 
rooms  ;  no  hot  or  cold  water  always  running  in  the 
house  or  yard  ;  no  ice  for  domestic  use  in  warm 
weather  ;  and  little  malaria  as  far  as  I  can  ascertain. 
No  friction  matches  ;  no  gas  lights  ;  no  free  letter 
carriers  or  messenger  boys  at  call ;  no  omnibuses  or 
street  cars  ;  no  railroads  of  any  kind  ;  no  police  in 
the  daytime,  only  a  few  watchmen  in  the  night ; 
no  electric  telegraphs,  nor  electric  lights  ;  and, 
practically,  no  steamboats  ;  there  were  then  only 
seven  in  and  about  New  York,  and  those  were  very 
slow  and  small,  and  charges  heavy.  There  was 
one  that  run  down  to  the  Narrows,  the  fare  was 
four  shillings,  equal  to  fifty  cents,  each  way,  and 
the  fare  to  Albany  was  seven  dollars  by  them. 

The  stage  fare  to  Albany  from JSFew  York  was  ten 
dollars,  and  the  time  was  thirty-six  hours,  riding 
night  and  day,  or  if  the  passenger  so  preferred,  he 
oould  lay  over  at  night  on  the  way. 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

The  Fortifications  of  New  York  City  and  Harbor — State  Appropri 
ations  for  Forts,  Arsenals,  etc. — Condition  of  Harbor  Defences — 
British  War  Vessels — Means  of  Defence. 


HE  fortification  of  New  York  city  and 
harbor  has  ever  since  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War  been  an  important 
theme. 

Shortly  after  the  adoption  of  the 
United  States  Constitution,  among  the 
many  measures  that  became  necessary  for  the  gen 
eral  government  to  consider  was  that  of  fortifying 
the  coasts  and  harbors  of  the  United  States.  A  thor 
ough  survey  was  undertaken  under  the  direction  of 
the  War  Department,  and  a  full  report  made  in  1794 
by  Gen.  Henry  Knox,  as  secretary  of  war. 

The  survey  maps,  plans,  and  locations  for  the 
defence  of  New  York  harbor  were  made  by  Charles 
Vincent,  a  French  engineer.  The  maps  and  sur 
veys  then  made  were  the  foundation  for  many  of 
the  defences  that  were  constructed  up  to  the  year 
1816  at  the  localities  then  designated  as  important. 
These  plans  were  for  fortifications  at  Sandy  Hook 
Point,  the  Highlands  of  Navesink,  on  Staten  Island 
at  the  Narrows,  and  on  Hendrick's  Reef,  and  where 
Fort  Hamilton  now  is,  to  cover  Fort  Lafayette — then 
Governor's  Island,  Bedloe's  and  Ellis  Islands. 
Powles'  Hook  (the  southeast  point  of  Jersey  City),, 


PO811F1CATIONS  OF  61 

Jersey  City  Heights,  the  South  Battery  (Castle 
Garden),  and  the  fort  off  Hubert  street.  No  notice 
was  taken  or  suggestion  made  as  to  defences  on 
points  in  the  East  River  or  at  Harlem,  but  Sag 
Harbor  was  to  have  a  small  battery. 

The  works  at  all  these  points  recommended  were 
not  undertaken  for  several  years.  The  State  of 
New  York  wished  them  much  more  extended  and 
formidable  than  the  general  government  thought 
was  necessary,  and  greater  in  proportion  than  was 
justified  by  the  objects  in  view. 

A  State  law  was  passed  March  26,  1794,  chap.  41, 
by  which  the  sum  of  40,000  pounds  ($100,000)  was 
appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  and  erect 
ing  fortifications  at  or  near  the  city  and  port  of  New 
York. 

Geo.  Christen,  Matthew  Clarkson,  James  Watson, 
Eichard  Varick,  Nicholas  Fish,  Ebenezer  Stevens, 
and  Abijah  Hammond,  were  appointed  commis 
sioners  ;  for  the  purpose  a  majority  were  authorized 
to  act. 

In  March,  1798,  the  New  York  Chamber  of  Com 
merce  petitioned  Congress  to  make  an  appropriation 
for  the  better  fortification  and  defence  of  New  York 
harbor.  Col.  Ebenezer  Stevens  laid  the  same  be 
fore  Congress,  and  a  committee  reported  in  favor  of 
an  appropriation  of  $117,000  for  the  purpose,  but 
nothing  further  was  done  about  it. 

By  the  laws  of  New  York  State  in  1798,  chap.  66, 
the  governor  is  authorized  and  required  to  erect  a 
proper  building  to  preserve  the  field  artillery  and 
small  arms  belonging  to  the  State  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  at  a  sum  not  exceeding  $3,000. 

By  another  State  law  of  August  27,  1798,  it  is  pro- 


62  CITY  AND  HARBOR. 

vided  that  the  sum  of  $150,000  be  appropriated  for 
the  purpose  of  repairing  and  completing  the  fortifi 
cations  in  New  York  city  and  vicinity,  and  for  con 
structing  such  other  fortifications  on  New  York 
Island,  Governor's  Island,  Bedloe's  Island,  Ellis  or 
Oyster  Island,  and  Long  Island,  and  for  providing 
such  other  means  of  defence  for  the  security  of  said 
city  and  port  as  the  governor  of  the  State  shall  deem 
necessary  for  the  security  and  defence  of  the  same, 
provided  that  said  sum  shall  be  expended  under  the 
direction  of  the  president  of  the  United  States. 

An  expediency  was  contrived  by  some  leading  poli 
ticians  in  New  York  to  settle  the  claim  of  the 
United  States  against  New  York  on  account  of  Kev- 
olutionary  expenses,  by  having  a  law  of  Congress 
allowing  any  State  to  discharge  its  debt  by  payment 
into  the  treasury  before  April,  1800,  or  by  expend 
ing  a  like  amount  within  five  years  in  the  erection 
of  fortifications  within  its  boundaries.  This  law 
was  passed  on  February  15,  1799. 

The  act  of  March  28,  1800,  chap.  64,  New  York 
State  accepted  of  the  act  of  Congress  of  1799,  and 
made  an  appropriation  accordingly.  The  governor 
of  the  State  was  authorized  to  procure  plans,  etc. , 
and  to  appoint  and  employ  such  agents  as  he 
deemed  proper  to  superintend  the  work  and  to  pur 
chase  the  requisite  materials. 

At  that  time  the  debt  of  the  State  to  the  general 
government  was  about  two  millions  of  dollars.  New 
York  was  the  only  State  that  chose  to  extinguish  its 
debt  by  erecting  defences  upon  its  own  soil,  and  a 
committee  of  Congress  reported  in  February,  1801, 
that  no  other  States  had  shown  any  disposition  to 
pay  the  balances  reported  against  them. 


SURVEY  OF  THE  HARBOR.  63 

These  fortifications  were  erected  under  the  super 
vision  and  direction  of  the  national  government. 
The  amount  so  expended  was  about  $900,000,  and 
was  for  works  on  Governor's  Island,  and  Bedloe's 
and  Ellis'  Islands,  and  at  the  Battery  parade  (now 
Castle  Garden),  and  a  battery  off  Hubert  street,  and 
two  magazines  in  the  city. 

The  amount  credited  to  New  York,  expended 
under  the  law,  was  $891,129.31,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  indebtedness  was  subsequently  released. 

In  1805  Col.  Jonathan  Williams,  of  the  United 
States  Engineers,  made  a  survey  of  the  harbor  of 
New  York  from  the  Narrows  to  in  and  about  the 
city,  and  made  his  report  to  Congress  thereon  in 
February,  1806. 

The  killing  of  John  Pierce,  master  of  the  sloop 
Richard,  on  the  25th  of  April,  1806,  by  firing  into 
her  by  the  British  war  vessel,  Leander,  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  Sandy  Hook,  created  great 
excitement,  and  the  city  of  New  York  gave  a  pub 
lic  funeral  to  the  deceased;  this  had  a  tendency  to 
call  further  attention  to  the  means  of  the  city  for 
defence  against  an  ocean  invader. 

In  1807  the  general  government  being  still  back 
ward  about  erecting  forts,  the  State  again  took  the 
matter  in  hand.  All  of  the  fortifications  existing 
in  1812  for  the  protection  of  New  York  may  prop 
erly  be  said  to  have  commenced  in  1807. 

Since  the  Spring  of  1807,  work  had  been  done 
under  the  State  laws  that  had  been  passed  from 
time  to  time,  making  appropriations  for  building  of 
fortifications  in  and  about  New  York  city  and  har 
bor,  on  Staten  Island,  and  at  the  Narrows  011  the 
Brooklyn  side,  and  on  the  islands  in  the  harbor,  and 


BOARD  OF  FORTIFICATIONS. 


the  works,  excepting  on  east  side  of  the  Narrows, 
had  made  much  progress  and  were  nearly  completed 
in  1812,  as  principally  designed  by  Col.  Jonathan 
Williams,  and  were  carried  into  operation  by  Capt. 
Kichard  Whitney,  of  the  United  States  Corps  of 
Engineers. 

By  chapter  51,  March  20th  of  that  year,  the  Gov 
ernor,  Lieut.  -Governor  the  Chancellor,  the  Chief  - 
justice  of  the  Supreme  court,  and  the  Mayor  of  New 
York  city  or  any  three  of  them  (the  Governor  to  be 
one),  were  authorized  to  deed  to  the  United  States 
such  parcels  of  land  on  Staten  Island  and  011  Long 
Island  for  fortifications,  the  same  not  to  exceed  two 
hundred  acres,  and  State  lands  at  Bluff's  Point, 
Staten  Island,  granted  to  the  United  States  for  pur 
poses  of  fortifications. 

A  State  board  of  fortifications  was  authorized  to 
be  appointed.  The  board  consisted  of  De  Witt  Clin 
ton,  James  Fairlie,  Jacob  Morton,  Peter  Curtenius, 
and  Arthur  Smith,  and  were  appointed  under  act 
of  March,  1807. 

In  1808,  Col.  Jonathan  Williams,  of  the  United 
States  Corps  of  Engineers,  at  the  request  of  the 
State  board  of  fortifications,  prepared  an  extensive 
plan  for  the  fortification  of  New  York  city  and  har 
bor  and  at  points  to  defend  its  approach.  These 
were  submitted  to  the  State  commissioners  of  forti 
fications  for  State  appropriations  for  building  where 
the  general  government  neglected  or  were  slow  to 
commence  the  works. 

By  chapter  51,  March  18th,  1808,  the  act  of  March 
20th,  1807,  was  extended  to  lands  covered  with 
water  between  Long  and  Staten  Islands  and  below 
the  south  bounds  of  the  city  and  county  of  New 


REPORT  ON  FORTIFICATIONS.  65 

York,  and  also  to  lands  in  the  city  and  county  of 
New  York,  and  also  to  lands  covered  with  water 
therein,  and  were  authorized  to  convey  the  same  to 
the  United  States  for  purposes  of  fortifications. 

Ellis  Island  was  authorized  to  be  purchased  by 
the  government  or  taken  by  law. 

By  chapter  61,  laws  of  1808,  the  State  was  author 
ized  to  take  lands  on  Long  and  Staten  Islands,  and 
in  the  City  of  New  York,  covered  with  water  and 
condemn  same  for  uses  of  defence,  and  may  convey 
same  to  United  States  and  to  revert  to  people  if  not 
used  by  United  States. 

Laws  of  1808,  chapter  131,  appropriates  $100,000 
to  expedite  the  defence  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
with  full  confidence  that  the  United  States  will  re 
imburse  the  same. 

The  report  to  New  York  State  Assembly  in  1808 
showed  that  the  plans  of  Col.  Williams  were   for 
the  following  number  of  guns  and  mortars  : 
Fort  Columbus,        .         .         .        104  guns. 
Castle  Williams,      .         .        .        100     " 
Ellis  Island,     .         .        .         .,          32     " 
Bedloe's  Island,       .         .         .  10     " 

Staten  Island,  Southeast  point,        80     " 
"      North  point,       .  15     " 

"     West  beach,  1st  tier,    27     " 
"       2d  tier,    27     " 
"      Wings     on     beach, 

each  tier,         .          15     " 

By  chap.  17,  February  9th,  1809,  the  Governor 
was  authorized  to  purchase  not  exceeding  twenty- 
five  acres,  adjacent  to  public  lands  at  the  Narrows, 
on  Staten  Island.  This  was  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  fortifications. 


66  STATE  APPROPRIATIONS. 

In  Col.  Williams'  report  to  Congress  in  December, 
1809,  he  stated  :  "  The  works  for  the  defence  of 
New  York  city  are  calculated  for  three  hundred 
guns  and  ten  mortars  exclusive  of  those 
mounted  on  travelling  carriages,  and  of  the  works 
on  Staten  Island  erected  by  the  State  of  New  York, 
calculated  for  eighty  guns." 

In  April,  1807,  a  State  appropriation  of  $3,000  was 
made  to  build  a  powder  house  in  New  York  city. 
By  Laws  1808,  chap.  9,  part  of  the  ground  on  Bridge 
street,  in  vicinity  of  government  house,  was  ceded 
to  the  United  States  for  arsenal. 

By  chap.  48,  Laws  1808,  the  Governor  is  authorized 
to  build  a  powder  house  and  to  purchase  one  and 
one-half  acres  of  land  for  same,  and  $1,000  besides 
that  appropriated  in  April,  1807,  which  was  $3,000. 

Chap.  61,  Laws  1808,  authorizes  the  erection  of  an 
arsenal  in  the  city  of  New  York,  between  Elm 
and  Collect  streets,  not  to  exceed  the  sum  of  $13,000, 
an  arsenal,  laboratory  and  workshops^and  ordnance 
yard,  together  with  the  necessary  appurtenant 
buildings  for  use  of  the  State. 

By  chap.  164,  Laws  1809,  the  action  of  the  Gover 
nor  in  purchasing  ten-acre  lot  for  wagon  yard  and 
powder  house  is  approved  and  affirmed,  and  balance 
of  expenses  to  be  paid  out  of  proceeds  of  sale  of 
two  gores  of  land  near  government  house,  belong 
ing  to  the  city. 

By  chap.  139,  June  12,  1812,  sec.  10,  Governor's 
guard  was  authorized  to  guard  fortifications,  etc. , 
at  Narrows;  and  sec.  11  authorized  the  establishment 
of  a  telegraph  observatory  and  signal  poles  on  the 
public  ground.  By  sec.  13,  the  sum  of  $25,000  was 
appropriated  for  com  Dieting  fortifications  on  Staten 


ARSENALS  AND  MAGAZINES,  67 

Island  and  $20,000  more  out  of  the  sum  appropri 
ated  April  6th,  1808. 

In  June,  1812,  there  were  four  arsenals  in  the 
city  of  New  York. 

The  State  arsenal,  a  three-story  brick  building,  was 
erected  in  1808,  on  the  corner  of  Elm  and  Franklin 
streets,  and  with  its  yard  and  outbuildings  occupied 
the  plot  between  Centre  and  Elm  and  Franklin 
and  Walker  streets. 

In  the  center  of  the  front,  facing  on  Franklin 
street,  was  a  three-story  brick  dwelling  used  as  a 
residence  and  office  of  the  State  commissary  general 
who  had  charge  of  the  arsenal. 

The  United  States  arsenal  on  Bridge  street,  back 
of  the  government  house,  near  the  South  Battery, 
was  of  brick  and  was  considered  a  good  work  for 
the  locality.  There  was  also  a  three-story  brick 
magazine  near  it. 

The  United  States  held  a  plot  of  two  acres  on  the 
Hudson  River  at  foot  of  West  Twelfth  street,  on, 
which  was  a  magazine,  arsenal  and  laboratory,  and 
was  surrounded  by  a  heavy  wall  nine  feet  high 
(where  Fort  Gaiisevoort  was  soon  afterwards 
erected). 

The  United  States  arsenal  was  at  the  junction  of 
the  old  Boston  road  and  the  Middle  road,  where  is 
now  (1889)  Madison  Square,  opposite  Fifth  Avenue 
Hotel,  on  the  east  side  of  Broadway,  and  was  within 
the  grounds  laid  out  for  "The  Parade"  in  1811.  It 
was  built  by  State  appropriations  which  it  was  ex 
pected  the  United  States  would  repay.* 

*  The  Parade  was  a  public  square  laid  out  by  the  Commissioners 
on  their  map,  laying  out  the  streets  and  roads  in  New  York  City  as 
reported  by  them  on  the  22d  March,  1811,  containing  238  and  7-10 


68  FORTS  IN  THE  CITY. 

The  United  States  magazine  at  Madison  Square 
was  capable  of  holding  500  barrels  of  powder  for 
supplying  the  fortifications  in  the  harbor  and  a  labor 
atory  for  making  ammunition  and  repairing  arms, 
and  doing  everything  necessary  for  aiding  the  field 
and  garrison  service. 

These  arsenals  were  constructed  of  stone  and 
brick  and  the  ground  enclosed  with  a  high  and  sub 
stantial  wall. 

A  powder  house  belonging  to  the  State  was  located 
between  Sixty-fourth .  and  Sixty-fifth  streets,  near 
Fifth  avenue.  It  is  now  the  arsenal  in  Central 
Park,  built  about  1848. 

There  were  two  forts  or  batteries  in  the  city. 
About  one  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  parade  at 
the  Battery  and  connected  with  it  by  a  draw  bridge 
at  the  southwest  extremity  of  the  city  at  the  point 
of  junction  of  East  and  Hudson  rivers,  a  founda 
tion  was  prepared  by  encompassing  with  a  polygon 
of  block,  a  space  of  200  feet  in  diameter  in  a  south 
west  direction  from  the  land.  The  blocks  form 
seven  sides  of  an  octagon,  two  sides  towards  the 
city  being  made "  into  one.  The  castle  is  of  New 
ark  red  sandstone  and  was  erected  similar  to  that  of 
Castle  Williams,  on  Governor's  Island,  and  capable  of 
mounting  twenty-eight  heavy  cannon.  These  were 
thirty-two-pounders  mounted.  It  had  two  capa 
cious  magazines  and  cisterns  and  barracks  for  offi 
cers  and  men.  It  was  then  officially  known  as 

acres,  extending  from  Twenty-third  street  north  to  Thirty-fourth 
street,  aud  from  Seventh  avenue  to  Third  avenue.  It  was  set  apart 
"for  military  exercise  and  also  to  assemble,  in  case  of  need,  the 
forces  destined  to  defend  the  city."  In  April,  1814,  it  was  reduced  to 
89  1-10  acres,  and  by  a  later  statute  to  less  than  seven  acres,  and  now 
-called  Madison  Square. 


FORTS  IN  THE  CITY.  69 

Southwest  battery,  but  after  the  war  as  Castle 
Clinton.  It  was  planned  by  Lieut.  Joseph  G.  Tot- 
ten,  of  the  United  States  Engineers,  and  was  built 
about  1811. 

The  Southwest  Battery  (now  Castle  Garden)  was 
the  headquarters  of  the  military  commanders  of 
this  district  from  the  time  of  its  completion  as  a 
fort.  The  site  of  it  was  ceded  to  the  United  States 
government  by  the  city  corporation  about  1807,  and 
the  fort  built  upon  it  as  a  battery. 

Immediately  after  the  war  of  1812  it  was  called 
Castle  Clinton  and  was  continued  in  use  as  a  na 
tional  fortress.  In  1817  Major-Gen.  Winfield  Scott, 
then  in  command  of  this  military  district,  attempted 
to  erect  some  temporary  wood  buildings  near  the 
fortress  on  Battery  park  ;  it  was  objected  to  on  the 
part  of  the  city  as  being  more  than  the  city  had 
ceded.  The  President  interceded  on  behalf  of  the 
city's  claim. 

In  November,  1822,  Castle  Clinton  was  ceded  by 
United  States  to  the  corporation  and  the  military 
headquarters  removed  to  Governor's  Island  where  it 
still  remains.  In  1823  Castle  Clinton  was  altered  to 
be  used  as  a  place  of  amusement  and  the  name 
changed  to  Castle  Garden,  which  it  still  retains. 

Up  the  Hudson  river,  off  Hubert  street,  about  200 
yards  from  the  shore,  to  which  was  a  draw-bridge 
thirty  feet  wide,  was  the  North  Battery.  It  was 
an  enclosed  semi- circular  work  of  Newark  red  sand 
stone,  hammered,  capable  of  holding  twenty  heavy 
guns  in  one  tier,  and  had  a  stone  magazine  and  fur 
nace  for  heating  cannon  balls .  It  would  cross  fire 
with  the  Southwest  Battery  above  described,  so  as  to 
render  it  impossible  for  an  enemy's  ship  to  lie  off 


TO  GO VERNORS  ISLAND. 

the  city  in  the  North  river,  in  like  manner  as  the 
other  batteries  would  make  it  impossible  for  an 
attack  to  be  made  on  the  East  river. 

This  was  afterwards  known  as  the  u  Red  fort. " 
The  foundation  was  laid  in  thirty-five  feet  of  water. 

There  were  several  forts  outside  the  city.  The 
principal  works  were  on  Governor's  Island.  At  a 
point  of  the  island  projecting  westward  to  the  edge 
of  the  channel  stood  Castle  Williams,,  Its  founda 
tion  of  solid  masonry  was  placed  on  a  bed  of  rocks 
which,  before  this  was  built,  had  much  endangered 
the  navigation  at  the  entrance  of  the  East  river,  as 
this  point  was  totally  submerged  except  at  very 
low  water,  between  Governor's  Island  and  the  south 
ern  point  of  New  York  city.  The  fortress  on  this 
foundation  of  rocks  was  three-fifths  of  a  circle  of 
two  hundred  feet  in  diameter,  casemated  with  bomb 
proof  arches  and  covered  two  tiers  of  heavy  cannon. 
The  lower  tier  was  for  twenty-seven  French  35- 
pounders  (about  equal  to  English  42-pounders).  The 
second  tier  was  for  thirty-nine  20-pounders,  and  the 
terrace  over  the  bombproof  formed  a  barbette  bat 
tery  upon  which  forty-five  columbiads,  carrying  50- 
pound  balls,  could  be  placed.  This  castle  could 
work  111  guns.  The  walls  were  about  forty  feet 
high,  of  Newark  red  sandstone,  hammered,  and  con 
sisted  of  thirteen  arches  of  thirty  feet  span,  two 
feet  thick  and  twenty-four  feet  in  length. 

The  cross  walls,  which  were  pierced  to  the  arches, 
were  seven  feet  thick  between  the  arches  and  twelve 
feet  at  the  termination  of  the  segment.  The  guns 
were  mounted  in  such  a  manner  that  the  center  of 
motion  would  be  immediately  under  the  muzzle  of  the 
gun,  so  that,  although  the  angle  of  fire  is  54  degrees, 


FORT  COLUMBUS,  71 


the  mouth,  of  the  gun  occupies  always  the  same 
place,  which  permits  the  throat  of  the  embrasure  to 
be  so  small  that  a  shot  could  not  pass  between  the 
gun  and  its  side,  and  the  line  of  fire  cross  at  twenty 
feet  distance.  The  interior  of  the  castle  was  open 
to  the  sky  and  the  apertures  for  smoke  to  escape 
amounted  to  144  square  feet  in  the  rear,  besides  fa 
cility  for  the  smoke  spreading  along  the  gallery  or 
occupying  the  superior  space — the  height  between 
the  platform  being  twelve  feet.  The  walls  were 
eight  feet  thick  on  the  ground  tier  and  seven  feet  on 
the  next  tier,  and  in  the  mass  of  the  wall  arches 
were  turned  over  each  pair  of  embrasures,  so  that 
if  it  were  possible  to  batter  a  breach  into  the  lower 
tier  the  upper  one  would  rest  upon  these  arches  and 
exhibit  the  appearance  of  a  bridge  composed  of  very 
solid  piers.  The  outside  cut  work  of  the  wall  was 
laid  in  what  is  called  Flemish  bond,  and  each  stone 
dovetailed  in  such  a  manner  that  no  one  could  be 
dislocated  without  being  first  broken  to  pieces. 
Over  each  embrasure  was  a  flat  arch  of  remarkable 
strength.  It  also  contained  two  stone  magazines 
for  200  barrels  of  powder  and  within  its  walls  was 
an  inexhaustible  well  of  the  finest  water,  from  which 
all  the  shipping  might  be  wratered  with  ease. 

The  arches  of  the  second  tier  would  serve  as  bar 
racks  to  accommodate  300  men. 

Fort  Columbus,  situated  .on  Governor's  Island 
near  the  middle  towards  the  southern  and  eastern 
side  of  it,  was  built  on  the  site  of  Fort  Jay  in  180T, 
and  consisted  of  four  batteries,  three  curtains  and 
an  attached  casemated  ravelin  or  moat,  with  two 
retired  flanks,  the  whole  capable  of  mounting  ninety- 
six  guns,  and  might  without  inconvenience  bring 


72  BEDLOE'S  AND  ELLIS  ISLANDS. 

half  its  force  at  one  instant  against  any  passing  ship, 
while  it  completely  commanded  the  East  Eiver.  It 
was  a  work  composed  of  a  walled  rampart  eight  feet 
thick  at  its  base,  diminishing  by  its  slope  to  six  feet 
at  the  line  of  the  cordon,  with  counter  forts  of  five 
feet  in  depth,  at  the  distance  of  thirteen  feet  from 
each  other,  surmounted  by  a  solid  brick  parapet  of 
ten  feet  in  thickness  :  the  ditch  was  about  forty  feet 
wide,  with  a  walled  counterscarp,  a  walled  covert 
way  and  sodded  glacis  extending  to  the  waters 
edge  on  the  east  and  south.  It  had  a  brick  maga 
zine  that  would  store  500  barrels  of  powder,  and 
brick  barracks  for  two  companies  rof  men  and  offi 
cers  and  a  furnace  for  heating  cannon  balls  red  hot. 

There  was  also  on  Governor's  Island  a  stone  mag 
azine  for  200  barrels  of  powder,  a  brick  arsenal,  a 
wooden  gun-house,  and  wooden  barracks  for  300 
men  and  officers. 

On  Bedloe's  Island,  lying  nearly  opposite  to  the 
west  of  Castle  Williams,  was'a  mortar  battery  called 
Fort  Wood,  that  commanded  the  channel  and  an 
choring  ground  to  the  full  distance  that  a  shell 
could  be  sent.  The  shape  of  this  battery  had  the 
greatest  sides  of  the  angles  perpendicular  to  the  line 
of  approach  and  the  shorter  sides  to  flank  them. 
Back  of  this  a  battery,  which  was  on  a  level  with  the 
ditch  of  a  star  fort,  was  built  of  compact  masonry  to 
mount  twenty-four  guns,  which  commanded  this 
battery  as  well  as  protected  Ellis  Island.  There 
was  also  a  stone  magazine  for  200  barrels  of  powder, 
and  brick  barracks  for  one  company  of  men  and 
officers,  and  a  brick  arsenal. 

On  Ellis  or  Oyster  Island,  opposite  Fort  Columbus, 
was  an  enclosed  circular  battery  of  masonry  mount- 


STA  TEN  ISLAND.  73' 


ing  fourteen  heavy  guns,  and  a  bomb  battery  for 
four  mortars,  with  barracks  of  stone  and  wood  for 
one  company  of  soldiers  and  officers. 

On  the  east  side  of  Staten  Island  at  Signal  Hill, 
Fort  Richmond,    Fort  Morton,    Fort  Hudson, were 
batteries  erected  ready  for  occupation. 

Fort  Hudson  was  the  southern  battery,  mounted 
thirty-five  cannon,  situated  in  a  direct  line  of  ap 
proach,  and  at  an  elevation  of  fifty  feet  above  low 
water  mark. 

Fort  Morton  was  a  battery  having  command  of 
forty-one  feet  over  the  former,  and  would  mount 
twelve  pieces  of  cannon. 

The  marine  battery,  Fort  Richmond's  line  of  cor 
don,  was  four  hundred  and  thirty  feet  in  length,  one 
foot  above  ordinary  level  of  the  sand  and  would 
mount  twenty-five  heavy  cannon. 

Fort  Tompkiris  commanded  these,  but  was  not 
yet  completed  above  the  foundation.  AH  of  the  ord 
nance  on  Staten  Island  at  that  time  belonged  to 
the  State  and  were  officially  reported  as  follows: 

24  32-pounders,         .         .         .         .      Iron. 
33  24         "   .         .         .         . 
2  12        "  .         .         .         .      brass. 

1  10-inch  brass  mortar. 

Total,  60  pieces. 

These  fortifications  were  constructed  under  the 
superintendence  of  Col.  Jonathan  Williams,  of  the 
second  artillery,  who  had  held  the  post  of  Chief  En 
gineer  in  the  United  States  army  since  April,  1805. 
Although  some  of  them  were  built  and  paid  for  by 
the  State  of  New  York,  still  they  were  under  the 
supervision  of  the  national  government,  and  the- 


74  NUMBER  OF  GUNS. 

office  of  the  Chief  Engineer  was  in  New  York  har 
bor. 

The  fortifications  on  Staten  Island  and  some 
other  additional  magazines  and  arsenals  in  the  city 
were  erected  entirely  at  the  instance  and  expense 
of  the  State.  * 

The  total  number  of  guns  in  the  forts  was  as 
follows  : 

Fort  Columbus          .  .60  guns. 

Castle  Williams,    .         .         .  .  52  " 

columbiads,  .       26  " 

Bedloe's  Island,      .                .  .  24  " 

Ellis  Island,       ...  14  " 

bomb  mortars.  .4  " 

Castle  Clinton,     ...  28  " 

North  Battery,         .                .  .  16  " 

Staten  Island  forts,    .  60  " 


Total,  .        .  284  guns. 

The  number  of  men  requisite  to  operate  all  these 
guns,  estimated  at  thirteen  to  each  gun,  would  be 
about  3,700  artillerists. 

This  did  not  include  the  guns  in  the  arsenals  in 
the  city,  which  were  mostly  on  traveling  carriages. 

In  the  United  States  arsenal  on  Bridge  street  near 
the  battery,  there  were  one  brass  24-pounder, 
seven  12 -pounders,  4  brass  howitzers  for  throwing 
shells  or  hot  balls,  and  22  iron  18-pounders;  total  32  ; 


*  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note  that  Castle  Williams,  the  South  Bat 
tery  (Castle  Gardeu),  the  Northwest  Battery  off  Hubert  street  (called 
"The  Red  Fort"),  Fort  Gansevoort,  foot  of  West  12th  street,  and 
Fort  Diamond  (now  Fort  Lafayette),  and  the  back  part  and  base 
ment  of  the  City  Hall,  were  all  built  of  Newark  red  sandstone  from 
the  same  quarry. 


SIZE  OF  CANNON.  75 

.all  mounted  on  field  carriages  with  necessary  im 
plements. 

Official  reports  showed  that  in  January,  1812,  in 
the  State  arsenal  on  Elm  street  were  4-1  pieces  be 
longing  to  the  State  militia  as  follows  : 

24  24-pouiiders,  iron,     .      .     .  dismounted. 

4: 18-pouiiders,     "      ...  mounted. 

2 12-pounders,     "       .      .     .  dismounted. 

4  9-pounders,       "          .  mounted. 

4 12-pounders,  brass,        .     .  mounted. 

2  9-pounders,        u     .    .      .  mounted. 

1  6-pounders,        "            .  mounted. 

The  iron  cannon  and  mortars  were  cast  in  one 
piece  of  coarse  iron,  and  were  not  bored.  They  were 
rough  inside  and  heavy.  A  few  field  pieces  were  of 
brass.  The  balls  were  also  rough  and  uneven. 
It  was  not  safe  to  use  a  ball  as  large  as  rated — thus 
in  a  24-pounder  a  22-pound  ball  was  used.  * 

In  June,  1812,  the  sum  of  $25,000  was  appropri 
ated  by  the  State  for  building  fortifications,  etc. ,  on 
Stateii  Island.  It  was  paid  over  to  the  State  com 
missioners  in  July,  f 


*  The  size  of  bore  of  cannon  is  as  follows  : 

42-pounder,       .       .       .       .       .       .       .  .     6i  inches. 

32-pounder, 6  inches. 

24-pounder,      .       .      ...      .      .          .  ...       5$  inches. 

18-pounder,         .       .    '.       .'       .       .      •-.'       .     5  inches. 
12-pounder,    ....  4|  inches. 

9-pounder, 4  inches. 

6-pounder,    .        .      .        .         .  .  3|  inches. 

3-pounder, 2|  inches. 

This  is  the  size  for  solid  round  iron  balls.  But  now  since  the  al 
most  exclusive  use  of  elongated  balls,  shells,  etc.,  cannon  are  usually 
rated  by  the  diameter  of  the  bore. 

f  The  official  report  to  the  State  senate  in  February,  1813,  relative 
,to  the  fortifications  and  defences  of  the  port  and  harbor  of  New 


76  OTHER  FORTS  NEEDED. 

There  was  then  no  fort  on  the  Brooklyn  side  of 
the  Narrows.  At  Denyse's  Heights,  as  it  was  called 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  being  the  bluff  in  New 
Utrecht,  at  the  Narrows,  was  an  earthwork  that 
could  mount  from  twenty  to  thirty  pieces  of  very 
effective  artillery.  It  is  now  west  of  Fort  Hamil 
ton.  There  was  then  no  fort  on  Hendrick's  reef, 
now  Fort  Lafayette,  although  one  had  been  recom 
mended  by  the  secretary  of  war  in  1794  but  was 
delayed  for  various  reasons,  and  it  was  decided  that 
Castle  Williams  and  the  batteries  on  Staten  Island 
were  sufficient  for  the  time. 

There  were  no  fortifications  at  Powles'  Hook,  or 
at  the  east  side  of  the  Narrows,  nor  at  Sandy  Hook, 
nor  at  Hell  Gate,  or  in  the  city  of  New  York  ex 
cepting  those  already  mentioned. 

Early  in  May,  1812,  the  common  council  received 
a  letter  from  Col.  Williams  about  southeast  point 
of  Corlear's  Hook,  near  the  junction  of  Corlear  and 
Front  streets.  As  the  United  States  government  was 

York  showed  a  statement  of  expenditures  since  1st  July,  1807,  as 
follows: 
Erecting  fortifications  on  the   westerly   side  of  the 

Narrows  on  Staten  Island, $115,000.00 

Building  arsenal  same  ground 2,400.00 

Purchase  of  land  there, 7,530.00 

Building   arsenal,   laboratory,    workshops,    keeper's 

house,  etc.,  Elm  street,  New  York,     .         .        .  26,486.12 

Purchase  of  ten-acre  lot  in  9th  Ward  and  erection  of 
laboratory,  magazine,  keeper's  lodge,  etc.,  thereon 
at  junction  of  Bloomingdale  and  Eastern  Post 
Roads  (now  Twenty-fifth  Street),  ....  8,253.07 


Total $159,669.49 

The  amount  of  the  moneys  paid  out  for  ordnance,  garrison  car 
riages  and  other  munitions  intended  and  adapted  exclusively  or 
principally  for  harbor  defence  is  not  included  in  the  above  state 
ment. 

There  then  (February,  1813)  remained  a  balance  of  about  $10,000 
of  the  fortification  fund  to  be  expended. 


FURTHER  DEFENCES.  77 

about  to  purchase  it  for  a  battery,  he  asked  a  trans 
fer  of  the  water  rights  of  the  city.  A  report  of  the 
committee  of  defence  to  the  common  council  was 
adopted  that  if  the  United  States  erect  a  battery  at 
Corlear's  Hook,  as  recommended  by  Col.  Williams, 
that  the  city  grant  all  necessary  rights  to  do  so. 
This  battery  would  command  the  Brooklyn  navy 
yard,  and  was  therefore  desirable. 

We  have  before  seen  that  the  common  council  at 
their  first  meeting  after  the  declaration  of  war  urged 
the  attention  of  the  State  and  national  governments 
to  the  necessity  of  the  erection  of  further  defences, 
and  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  on  the  Governor 
of  the  State  and  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  common  council  on  the  6th  of 
July,  1812,  it  was  reported  that  the  President  had 
given  instructions  that  the  contemplated  works  at 
Corlear's  Hook  and  on  the  arsenal  grounds  on  North 
River,  afterwards  called  Fort  Gansevoort,  be  pro 
ceeded  with. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  1812,  a  special  meeting  of  the 
common  council  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  hear 
ing  report  from  the  Governor  and  the  secretary  of 
war  in  regard  to  further  fortifications  Tind  de 
fences.  The  report  was  favorable. 

A  line  of  telegraph  was  commenced  by  the  State 
government  between  the  Highlands  of  Staten  Is 
land,  and  the  Navy  Yard  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  about 
June  23d,  1812.  They  would  be  called  now  signal 
stations. 

The  building  of  subsequent  fortifications  during 
the  war  will  be  described  in  their  chronological  or 
der  as  the  narrative  of  events  progresses. 

These  harbor  fortifications  were  sufficient,  when 


78  MODES  OF  A  TTA  CK. 

we  take  into  consideration  the  means  of  navigating 
vessels.  The  wind  and  tide  must  be  favorable  for 
an  attempt  to  enter  the  harbor  and  to  run  the  gaunt 
let  subject  to  cannonade  by  vessels  and  land  batter 
ies  for  many  miles,  and  then  perhaps  not  being  able 
to  return  when  desired,  and  again  the  sand  bars  of 
the  unfamiliar  harbor,  were  all  against  the  enemy. 

New  York  city  was  subject  to  an  attack  by  the 
English  war  vessels  which,  beside  cannon  balls, 
fired  hot  shot,  case  or  canister  and  grape  shot,  and 
the  much  feared  Congreve  rockets,  which  were  made 
of  iron  and  could  be  thrown  2,000  yards  into  a  city, 
where  they  would  scatter  fire  and  destruction. 

The  body  of  a  rocket  was  called  a  carcass.  They 
were  generally  made  of  iron  hoops,  canvas  and 
cords,  and  were  oblong  and  filled  with  powder  and 
combustibles.  Their  weight  when  filled  varied 
from  16  to  216  pounds.  Some  of  the  small  rockets 
were  of  cast  iron  and  were  pointed,  some  were  made 
of  thick  sheet  iron  with  a  fuse,  the  latter  were  fired 
from  a  mortar  or  cannon.  The  other  kinds  were 
fired  from  a  trough  and  were  propelled  in  the  same 
manner  as  modern  rockets. 

The  fire  ships  were  used  to  send  among  a  fleet  and 
set  fire  to  it.  In  return,  the  United  States  forts, 
batteries  and  war  vessels,  besides  sending  iron  balls, 
hot  shot,  bar  shot,  canister  and  grape  shot,  had 
chain  balls  and  balls  connected  by  a  rod  eight  or 
ten  inches  long,  called  double-headed  shot  (some 
thing  like  modern  dumbbells) ;  star  shot,  being  sur 
rounded  by  prongs  or  three- square  shot,  so  that  it 
would  lacerate  and  tear  the  sides  of  a  ship  more  ef 
fectively  than  round  ;  and  langrel  shot,  being  loose 
and  connected  with  a  joint. 


MEANS  OF  DEFENCE.  79 

These  were 'regarded  as  much  more  effective  in 
naval  engagements  than  round  shot,  because  when 
the  latter  was  below  the  water-line  men  were  placed 
ready  to  plug  the  holes,  which  could  not  be  done  so 
readily  where  the  hole  was  irregular.  This  was  a 
Yankee  invention  which  the  English  never  availed 
themselves  of. 

The  chain,  double-headed  and  rod  shot  were  for 
cutting  down  the  rigging,  masts  and  sails  of  enemy's 
vessels.  Elongated  and  steel  shot  were  then  un 
known,  the  percussion  shell  was  also  unknown 
then,  and  shells  with  a  fuse  wrere  in  use,  but  not  as 
we  know  them  now.*  Both  armies  had  thirteen- 
inch  mortars  and  howitzers  to  throw  shells.  One 
hundred  and  ten  pound  round  shot  was  the  heaviest 
used  in  the  war  of  1812. 

The  columbiads  were  considered  the  most  effect 
ive  guns  in  the  American  service,  f 


*  In  an  address  in  1851  by  Charles  King,  then  president  of  Colum 
bia  College,  he  says  that  Mr.  R.  L.  Stevens,  of  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  first 
invented  the  elongated  shell  to  be  fired  from  ordinary  cannon.  After 
many  experiments,  in  1813-14,  he  perfected  his  invention  and  sold 
the  secret  to  the  United  States  in  1814.  One  of  these  experiments 
was  made  at  Governor's  Island  in  the  presence  of  officers  of  the 
army,  where  a  target  of  white  oak  four  feet  thick  and  bolted  through 
and  through  with  numerous  iron  fastenings,  was  completely  de 
stroyed  by  a  shell  weighing  200  pounds  and  containing  13  pounds  of 
powder.  This  solid  mass  of  wood  and  iron  was  torn  asunder,  the 
opening  was  large  enough,  the  certificate  of  Col.  House,  the  com 
manding  officer,  stated  for  a  man  and  horse  to  enter.  These  shells 
were  hermetically  sealed  and  suffered  no  deterioration  from  time. 
None  of  them  were  ever  in  actual  use  in  that  war. 

fin  Hoy  t's  Military  Dictionary,  published  in  1811,  a  columbiad  was 
defined  as  "a  gun  of  a  new  construction  lately  cast  at  Foxall's 
foundry  on  the  Potomac.  It  carries  a  fifty-pound  ball,  and  differs 
from  the  English  carronade.  It  will  carry  its  ball  6CO  yards,  and 
pierce  through  a  breastwork  thicker  than  the  sides  of  a  ship  ot-the- 
line,  with  the  addition  of  eight  feet  of  earth  and  fascines." 


80  DISTANCES  OF  FORTS. 

The  distances  efforts,  etc.,  about  New  York  city 
in  1812,  were  as  follows  : 

From  Fort  Gansevoort  to 
Stevens'  Point,  Ho- 

boken, 1,390  yards. 

"      Fort  Gansevoort  to 

Powles'  Hook  ...     4,107       " 
"      Castle   Garden    to 

Powles'  Hook  ...     1,948       " 
"      Castle  Williams  to 

Powles'  Hook  ...     2,738       " 
"      Castle  Garden    to 

Ellis  Island .     ...     2,048       " 
"      Castle   Garden    to 

Castle  Williams        .     1,217       " 
"      Castle    Garden  to 

G'v'nor's   Island.     .      1,060       " 
"      Castle  Garden    to 

Bedloe's    Island,        .     2,946       " 
"      Castle     Garden  to 

Stevens'     Point, 

Hoboken 5,043       " 

"      Castle   Garden   to 

Staten  Island,  .     .     .     8,816       " 
"      Castle   Garden    to 

Narrows      near 

Fort   Tompkins,   .     .     7TV  miles. 
"      Fort  Bichmond  to 

Duryea's  wharf, 

Bath,      .      .        .        .1,760  yards. 
Across        Butter 
milk       Channel   .     .        943       " 
Ferry,  Delancey  St. 

to  Williamsburg  .     .     .  W897    ;u 

Telegraph  at  Nar 
rows  to  Sandy 
Hook  light  house  .  .  10  miles. 


ENGLISH  WAR   VESSELS.  81 

The  draught  of  water  of  British  war  vessels  was  : 
those  below  20  guns,  13  feet ;  20  to  36  guns,  15  feet; 
and  those  from  36  to  50  guns,  16  feet ;  and  from  64 
to  90  guns,  18  feet. 

The  American  war  vessels  drew  much  more  wa 
ter  than  those  of  the  English.  The  Constitution,  of 
54  guns,  drew  23  feet  of  water.  The  Wasp,  of  18 
guns,  drew  15  feet. 

The  sand  bar  at  the  entrance  of  New  York  har 
bor,  near  Sandy  Hook,  was  22-J  feet  under  water  at 
low  tide.  Any  British  war  vessel  could  cross  the 
bar  at  low  tide  if  kept  in  the  channel,  which  was 
quite  narrow.  At  high  tide  the  water  was  from 
twenty-eight  to  thirty  feet  deep. 

There  was  not  much  danger  of  a  land  attack  by 
the  men  from  the  war  vessels  as  the  force  was  not 
sufficient  to  be  formidable. 

The  number  of  men  that  was  then  required  on  an 
English  war  vessel  were  as  follows: 

6   to   14   guns,    .       .        .       25  to  50  men. 
16   to   18      "          .        .       .    90  to  120     " 
20   to  28       "'...-.        .     140  to  200     " 
32   to  40      "  .        .       .  220  to  300     " 

50   to  60      "      -.  .       .-..".      320  to  420     " 
64   to  80      "          .        .       .  500  to  650     " 
90  to  98      "     .  •      .       .      TOO  toT50     " 
100      "         .         .        .  850  to  875     " 
The  number  of  men  on  all  vessels  less  than   60 
guns,  were  increased  the  next  year. 

Knowing  the  circumstances  existing  in  Europe  in 
the  Spring  of  1812,  the  citizens  of  New  York  had 
little  or  no  fear  of  an  invasion  by  the  enemy  either 
by  sea  or  land. 

All  hopes  of  peace  in  Europe  between  Napoleon 


NO   FEAR   OF  INVASION 


and  the  other  great  nations  were  at  an  end  early  in 
April,  and  the  most  active  movements  for  a  stupen 
dous  campaign  on  the  part  of  Napoleon  were  in  pro 
gress.  He  soon  had  under  his  command  an  army  of 
one  million  and  a  quarter,  which  was  the  largest 
army  that  had  been  collected  together  since 
the  fall  of  the  Roman  Empire.  In  May,  Napoleon 
was  on  his  way  to  the  North  with  an  army  of 
more  than  half  a  million  of  men  to  invade  the 
dominions  of  the  Emperor  of  Russia  ;  at  the  same 
time  he  was  engaged  in  a  war  with  England  and 
Spain  in  the  Spanish  peninsula.  The  greater  part 
of  the  rest  of  Europe  was  subject  to  his  control. 
The  Russians  had  only  an  army  of  about  300,000 
men  to  meet  the  invader.  In  the  issue  of  the  con 
test  with  Russia,  England  had  a  deep  interest,  and 
the  two  countries  and  Sweden  had  a  treaty  offen 
sive  and  defensive  against  France.  It  was,  in  effect, 
a  war  upon  England  through  Russia. 

In  the  war  in  Spain,  England  was  the  principal ; 
with  the  other  powers  of  Europe,  who  were  the  allies 
and  dependents  of  Napoleon,  England  was  neces 
sarily  at  war.  At  this  time,  says  Allison,  "the  power 
of  Napoleon  appeared  too  great  to  be  withstood  by 
any  human  effort ;  and  even  the  strongest  heads 
could  anticipate  no  other  issue  from  the  war  than 
the  final  prostration  of  Russia,  the  conquest  of 
Turkey  and  the  establishment  of  French  supremacy 
from  the  English  Channel  to  the  Black  Sea." 

Under  such  circumstances  it  could  not  reasonably 
be  expected  that  England  would  detach  any  greater 
force  from  her  continental  wars  than  what  she 
deemed  necessary  to  maintain  her  possessions  in 
America,  and  hence  it  would  be  only  a  defensive 


IN  NEW  YORK  CITY.  83 

war  in  America  on  the  part  of  England,  The 
English  war  vessels  about  the  American  coast  and 
the  West  Indies  wrere  for  the  purpose  of  protecting 
English  commerce,  and  aiding  in  the  obtaining  of 
food  supplies  for  the  army  in  Spain.  This  was  done 
mainly  by  means  of  licenses  from  British  consuls 
(authorized  by  orders  in  council).,  to  permit  vessels 
of  all  nations  to  carry  certain  specified  articles  to 
certain  ports  in  Europe.  This  prevented  neutral 
trade,  as  now  recognized  by  the  law  of  nations.  The 
British  war  vessels  did  not  molest  any  vessel  having; 
a  license. 


CHAPTER  V. 

City  Militia  Forces  —  Detachments  Requested  by  the  President 
and  Organized  by  Governor  Tompkins—  Assignment  of  Offi 
cers  —  Powers,  of  the  Governor  —  Orders  and  Regulations  — 
United  States  Troops  in  the  Harbor  —  New  Jersey  Militia  for 
Defence  of  New  York. 


uniformed  corps  of  the  militia 
of  the  city  and  county  of  New 
York,  in  April,  1812,  consisted  of 
ten  regiments  of  infantry  —  in  two 
brigades  (the  third  and  the  tenth), 
one  battalion  of  riflemen,  one 
squadron  of  cavalry,  three  regi 
ments  of  artillery,  one  company 
of  flying  artillery,  one  company  of 
veteran  artillery  volunteers,  comprising  in  all  about 
3,000  men  ;  the  number  of  persons  subject  to  mili 
tary  duty  in  the  city  was  about  12,000.  The  num 
ber  of  persons  exempt  from  military  duty  for  various 
causes  was  much  larger  in  New  York  city  than  else 
where. 

Although  this  number  of  uniformed  militia  in  the 
city  of  New  York  looks  small,  it  was  larger  in  pro 
portion  to  the  population  than  it  is  now  or  has 
ever  been  during  the  past  half  century.  Some  of 
the  officers  and  men  in  the  uniform  corps  in  the 
city  were  from  other  towns  in  the  near  vicinity  of 
New  York,  to  wit  :  Eichmond,  Kings,  Queens,  and 
Westchester  counties.  The  146th  Kegiment  in  the 


NEW  YORK  CITY  MILITIA.  85 

third  brigade  (composed  of  six  regiments),  was  from 
Richmond  county. 

In  1806  and  subsequent  to  that  time,  several  laws 
were  passed  by  the  State  from  time  to  time  to  en 
courage  the  organization  of  artillery  and  other  mili 
tary  companies  in  New  York  city,  and  also  cavalry 
and  rifle  companies,  with  special  provisions  for -the 
equipment  of  them  by  the  State,  the  members  of 
which  were  exempt  from  taxes,  jury  duty,  etc., 
and  after  a  few  years  of  such  service,  were  exempt 
from  further  military  service,  except  in  case  of  in 
vasion. 

There  were  in  1812  forty-five  fire  and  hose  com 
panies  in  New  York  city,  the  members  of  which 
were  not  liable  to  military  duty;  in  any  event, 
their  services  being  deemed  as  valuable  in  prevent 
ing  the  spread  of  fires  as  in  any  branch  of  military 
duty  in  case  of  invasion.  Each  company  consisted 
of  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  men. 

The  law  of  April  10,  providing  for  the  detachment 
of  100,000  militia  to  be  apportioned  among  the 
States,  did  not  cause  much  anxiety  as  to  the  pros 
pects  of  war.  In  1806  Congress  had  directed  a  de 
tachment  of  100,000  men  to  be  made  from  the 
militia  of  the  several  States,  and  President  Jeffer 
son  issued  a  circular  enforcing  it,  but  they  were 
never  put  into  active  service,  but  it  led  many  of  the 
States  to  make  laws  for  the  better  organization  of 
its  militia. 

The  third  brigade  of  infantry  was  under  the  com 
mand  of  Brig. -Gen.  Peter  P.  Van  Zandt,  and  was 
then  composed  of  six  regiments.  The  tenth  brigade 
was  under  command  of  Gen.  Gerard  Steddiford,  and 
consisted  of  five  regiments. 


86  LONG  ISLAND  MILITIA. 

The  artillery  was  under  command  of  Brig. -Gen. 
Jacob  Morton. 

The  three  generals  were  veterans  of  the  Kevolu- 
tion. 

The  city  cavalry  was  under  command  of  Major 
James  Warner. 

The  riflemen  were  under  Lieut.  -Col.  Francis  Mc- 
Clure. 

At  that  time  some  of  the  uniformed  companies  of 
infantry  militia  regiments  in  the  city  were  drilled 
as  artillery,  and  only  a  portion  of  each  were  armed 
with  muskets. 

The  first  brigade  of  artillery,  under  command  of 
Gen.  Jacob  Morton,  consisted  of  the  second,  third 
and  ninth  artillery  regiments  in  New  York  city, 
Capt.  Wilson's  artillery  company  of  Brooklyn,  and 
some  companies  from  Dutchess  county,  which 
were  in  June  organized  as  the  fourth  regiment  of 
artillery,  under  command  of  Lieut. -Col.  Nathan 
Myers,  and  the  portion  in  New  York  city  was  desig 
nated  the  third  regiment  under  command  of  Lieut.  - 
Col.  A.  Sitcher. 

In  the  three  artillery  regiments  in  New  York 
city  in  1812  some  of  them  consisted  of  a  battalion 
with  field  pieces,  and  a  battalion  with  small  arms, 
and  were  also  drilled  as  infantry  or  light  infantry. 

The  twenty -second  brigade  comprised  the  militia 
of  the  counties  of  Kings  and  Queens,  and  was  four 
regiments,  under  Gen.  Jacob  S.  Jackson. 

Brooklyn  had  a  company  of  horse  or  flying  artil 
lery  under  Capt.  John  Wilson;  the  artillery  under 
Capt.  Barbarien;  the  riflemen  under  Capt.  Burdett 
Stryker,  50  strong;  the  Fusileers  of  Capt.  Joseph 
Herbert,  20  strong.  Capt.  Herbert's  company  wore 


WESTCHESTER  MILITIA.  87 

short  green  coats  and  Eomaii  leather  caps.  Capt. 
Stryker's  company  wore  green  frocks  trimmed  with 
yellow  fringe,  and  were  called  "  Katydids "  from 
their  dress. 

Suffolk  county,  which  was  regarded  as  an  im 
portant  point  in  the  defences  of  New  York  harbor, 
comprised  the  thirty-third  brigade  composed  of  four 
regiments  under  command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Abraham 
Rose. 

The  southern  portion  of  Westchester  county  com 
prised  the  fifteenth  brigade  of  four  regiments  under 
command  of  Brig.-Gen.  Thomas  Carpenter. 

The  militia  had  lately  been  supplied  with  means 
of  field  defence.  About  the  24th  of  March  ninety 
pieces  of  field  artillery,  part  of  them  brass  and  part 
iron,  arrived  at  New  York  city  from  Washington 
and  were  distributed  among  the  artillery  in  New 
York  and  vicinity. 

The  State  authorities  issued  field  pieces  to  the 
artillery  companies  in  New  York  city  as  follows : 
To  Capt.  Ferris,     ...     2  6-pounders. 
"     Bogart    ...     2  6 
"     Horn       ...     2  6 
"    Masterson    ..26 
"    Hunter    ...     2  9 

Bogart's  Flying  Artillery,  1  6-pounder  and  1  3- 
pouiider. 

The  following  were  fully  equipped  : 

Capt.  Lyon's  company,  2  6-pounders ;  Capt. 
Miller's  company,  1  6-pounder,  both  of  Westches 
ter;  and  Capt.  Duryea,  of  Kings  county,  and  Capt. 
Jermain,  of  Suffolk  county,  were  independent  com 
panies. 

In  the  act  of  April   10th,   for  the   detachment   of 


88  DETACHED  M1LI1IA. 

100,000  men  from  the  militia  of  the  States,  it  was 
provided  that  they  should  be  offered  by  the  governor 
of  the  State  in  which  they  belonged  to  and  to  serve 
not  exceeding  six  months.  Under  this  law  the  Presi 
dent,  by  letter  of  April  15th,  addressed  to  Gov 
ernor  Tompkins,  fixed  the  quota  of  New  York  State 
at  13,500,  to  serve  at  the  same  pay  and  rations  as 
United  States  militia  under  law  of  February,  1795.* 
The  army  ration  consisted  at  that  time  of  one  and 
one-quarter  pounds  of  beef  or  three-quarter  pound 
of  pork,  eighteen  ounces  of  bread  or  flour,  one  gill 
of  rum,  whisky  or  brandy  per  day.  For  every  100 
rations  there  was  allowed  two  quarts  of  salt,  four 
quarts  of  vinegar,  four  pounds  of  soap,  and  one  and 
one-half  pounds  of  candles.  This  was  for  each  non 
commissioned  officer,  private,  and  musician;  officers 
were  allowed  more,  or  money  in  lieu  thereof. 
Officers  in  service  were  allowed  as  follows  : 
Major- General,  .  .  6  waiters. 

Brigadier-General,        .         .  4 

Colonel, 3 


*  The  pay  of  the  infantry,  artillery  and  cavalry  of  the  militia 
when  called  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  in  1812,  was  at  the 
rate  per  month  as  follows  : 

Sergeant-Major $9.00 

Quarter-Master  Sergeant 9.00 

Drum  and  Fife  major .  8.33 

Sergeant .  8.00 

Corporal, 7.33 

Drummer, 7.33 

Fifer, 7.33 

Trumpeter .  7.33 

Saddler, 8.00 

Farrier 8.00 

Artificer, 8.00 

Gunner,         ... 6.66 

Bombardier,     .                .                ....  6.66 

Private, .  6.66 


STATE  MILITIA 


Lieutenant-Colonel,     .         .  2  waiters. 

Major,  .      .         .         .         2         " 

Hospital  Surgeon,        .         .  2 

All  other  commanding  officers,  one  servant. 

By  act  of  July  6,  1812,  it  was  provided  "  that  of 
ficers  who  shall  not  take  waiters  from  the  line  of  the 
army  shall  receive  the  pay,  clothing  and  subsistence 
allowed  to  a  private  soldier ;  other  waiters  will  be 
allowed  for  in  money,  for  clothing  at  contract  price, 
and  rations  at  twenty  cents  per  day's  ration." 

This  quota  called  for  was  based  upon  the  white  pop 
ulation  of  the  State  according  to  the  act  of  Congress 
in  1795,  and  was  at  the  rate  of  about  115,000  men  in 
the  State  liable  to  do  military  duty  if  called  upon. 

On  the  21st  of  April,  1812,  the  Governor  issued  his 
general  order  from  his  headquarters,  New  York  city, 
for  the  detachment  of  the  enrolled  militia  and  speci 
fied  the  quota  to  be  drawn  from  each  regiment  of 
militia  in  the  State,  which  was  then  composed  of 
about  200  infantry  regiments  and  forty-two  brigades 
and  eight  divisions.* 

The  New  York  State  militia  was  by  the  constitu 
tion  in  command  of  the  Governor  of  the  State,  It  was 
composed  of  eight  divisions  of  infantry,  each  com 
manded  by  a  major-general.  Each  of  the  divisions 
had  from  one  to  seven  brigades,  as  was  convenient 
for  the  inhabitants  to  meet  for  that  purpose.  Each 
brigade  was  composed  of  from  one  to  seven  regi 
ments.  The  State  artillery  was  commanded  by  Ma- 

*  Government  orders,  when  sent  by  mail  from  Washington,  general 
ly  arrived  in  New  York  city  on  the  second  or  third  day  after  their 
date,  and  if  they  were  forwarded  to  the  Governor  while  he  was  at 
Albany  it  took  one  day  longer  and  another  day  to  get  back  to  New 
York  city.  Thus  orders  affecting  the  militia  might  be  five  or  six 
days  before  announcement  in  New  York. 


90  COMMISSIONED  BY 

j  or- General  Ebenezer  Stevens,  and  consisted  nomi 
nally  of  three  brigades.  The  State  cavalry  was  com 
manded  by  Major-General  Solomon  Van  Eensselaer 
and  was  composed  of  three  brigades.  The  entire 
enrolled  State  militia  was  about  100,000  men. 

New  York  city,  with  several  other  counties,  were 
in  the  first  division  of  infantry,  and  was  under 
command  of  Major- General  Nathaniel  Coles,  of 
Oyster  Bay,  Queens  county,  a  veteran  of  the  Revo 
lution. 

The  third  brigade  of  cavalry  was  under  command 
of  Brig. -General  Aquila  Giles,  of  New  York  city, 
a  veteran  of  the  Revolution.  It  comprised  the  city 
of  New  York,  Rocklaiid,  Ulster,  Orange,  Putnam, 
Dut  chess,  Westchester,  Kings,  Queens,  Suffolk,  and 
Richmond  counties.  -  The  first  regiment  was  under 
Lieut. -Col.  George  D.  Wickham,  of  Goshen,  Orange 
county,  and  comprised  the  city  of  New  York,  Rock- 
land,  Ulster,  Orange,  and  Richmond  counties. 

The  second  regiment  of  cavalry,  comprising  the 
counties  of  Putnam,  Westchester,  Kings,  Queens, 
and  Suffolk,  were  under  Lieut. -Col.  Jacob  Odell,  of 
Tarrytown,  also  a  veteran  of  the  Revolution.  The 
other  regiment  of  that  brigade  comprised  the  caval 
ry  of  Dutchess  county. 

All  the  commissioned  officers  in  the  militia  were 
appointed  by  the  State  "  Council  of  Appointment," 
of  which  the  Governor  was  one,  but  he  had  the  sole 
power  of  assigning  each  officer  to  command  and  to 
duty. 

The  official  position  of  the  Governor  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  under  the  constitution  of  1777,  then 
in  force,  which  was  adopted  while  New  York  was 
an  independent  sovereign  State  and  when  she  ac- 


THE  GOVERNOR.  91 


knowledged  no  higher  political  authority,  before  the 
articles  of  confederation  were  entered  into  by  New 
York,  made  him  "  General  and  Commander-in-chief 
of  all  the  militia,  and  Admiral  of  the  N'avy  "  of  the 
State.* 

The  State  militia  law  was  amended  by  act  dated, 
June  12th,  1812,  and  additional  powers  were  con 
ferred  on  the  Governor  as  commander-in-chief  of  the 
militia,  and  many  other  important  matters  provided 
for  the  protection  of  the  State  in  case  of  invasion 
and  for  active  military  service. 

The  military  dress  of  the  Governor  was  the  uni 
form  of  a  major-general,  which  he  wore  on  all  oc 
casions  of  review  and  parades.  It  was  according  to 
the  United  States  army  regulation  uniform — blue 
coat  with  buff  facing,  blue  or  buff  pantaloons  or 
breeches;  high  military  boots  with  gilt  spurs;  large 
gold  epaulettes,  with  two  stars  on  each  shoulder 
strap;  black  chapeau  and  gold  eagle  in  the  center. 

The  powers  of  the  Governor,  as  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  militia,  were  exercised  by  Gov.  Daniel 
D.  Tompkins  in  a  manner  that  almost  ignored  the 
authority  of  the  Council  of  Appointment  in  the 
selection  of  militia  officers.  During  the  war  he 
bre vetted  major-generals,  brigadier-generals  and 
colonels  and,  by  virtue  of  their  brevets,  gave  them 
actual  rank  and  actual  command,  laying  on  the 
shelf  whom  he  chose  and  assigning  whom  he  chose 
to  succeed.  He  organized  whole  regiments,  filled 


*In  June,  1812,  a  law  was  passed  authorizing  the  Governor  to  pro 
vide  and  equip  at  the  expense  of  the  State  a  boat  or  barge  in  the 
harbor  of  New  York,  for  the  use  of  the  State.  The  expense  was  not 
limited.  The  boat  was  soon  completed  and  was  at  the  disposal  of 
the  Governor  during  the  war. 


92  APPOINTMENT  OF 

all  the  offices,  and  assigned  them  to  commands  by 
brevet.  He  promoted  majors  to  be  colonels, 
captains  to  be  majors,  lieutenants  to  be  captains, 
ensigns  to  be  lieutenants,  and  citizens  to  be  ensigns, 
by  brevet,  and  made  all  these  appointments  with 
out  respect  to  the  rules  of  military  promotion.  He 
corrected  errors  and  supplied  omissions  made  by  the 
council  of  appointment,  and  changed  the  rank  of 
officers  appointed  by  that  body  according  to  his  own 
views.  He  authorized  commandants  to  decide  upon 
claims  to  priority  of  rank,  growing  out  of  brevet, 
leaving  the  obvious  implication  that  brevet  gave 
rank.  He  filled  not  only  his  own  staff,  but  the  staff 
of  major-generals,  brigadier-generals,  and  even  of 
colonels,  by  brevet,  sometimes  paying  respect  to 
their  recommendations  and  sometimes  disregarding 
them. 

The  following  is  an  example  of  the  exercise  of 
this  authority  by  the  Governor  : 

"  HEADQUARTERS,  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK. 

(l  23d  Nov.,  1811. 

"  The  commander-in-chief  is  pleased  to  assign  and 
brevet  Daniel  E.  Dunscomb  as  captain;  Charles  Mc- 
Kenna  as  first  lieutenant,  and  James  B.  Murray  as 
second  lieutenant  of  a  company  of  artillery  hereby 
organized  and  attached  to  the  second  regiment  of 
the  first  brigade  of  artillery.  By  order  of  the  Com 
mander-in-chief. 

"R.  MACOMB,  Aid-de-Camp." 

The  commander  of  a  militia  regiment  was  com 
missioned  as  lieutenant- colonel;  there  was  no  officer 
commissioned  as  colonel  in  the  State  militia  at  that 
time,  although  the  lieutenant-colonel  was  generally 


MILITIA   OFFICERS.  93 


called  colonel,  until  it  became  long  afterward  to  be 
officially  designated  as  colonel,  and  the  next  in  com 
mand  the  lieutenant-colonel,  as  in  the  United  States 
army. 

The  military  appointments  and  promotions  by  the 
Council  of  Appointment  were  generally  actuated 
more  by  the  party  feeling  of  the  majority  of  the 
council  as  to  the  political  standing  of  the  applicant. 

In  1814  nearly  every  officeholder  in  the  city  or 
State  government  held  a  commission  as  an  officer 
in  the  militia,  and  most  of  the  subordinates  in  the 
departments  were  non-commissioned  officers. 

De  Witt  Clinton  was  appointed  by  the  Council  of 
Appointment  a  major-general  of  New  York  State 
militia  in  August,  1812,  and  held  it  through  the 
war,  but  the  Governor  of  the  State  never  assign 
ed  him  to  military  duty  or  permitted  him  to  exer 
cise  it. 

The  right  of  the  Governor  of  the  State  to  do  this 
prior  to  the  constitution  of  1821was  never  questioned. 
It  came  by  inheritance  from  the  administration  of 
all  the  previous  governors  under  the  constitution  of 

im. 

The  Council  of  Appointment  was  Federal,  and  op 
posed  to  the  war,  while  the  Governor  was  a  Demo 
crat   and  in  favor  of   the  war,   and   his  military 
appointments  and  assignments  were  selected  with 
that  end  in  view. 

Many  competent  men  who  held  commissions  from 
the  Council  of  Appointment  were  never  assigned  to 
any  command  by  Gov.  Tompkiiis  during  the  war. 

It  could  not  be  said  that  his  military  assign 
ments  were  always  made  in  disregard  of  his  strong 
political  partisan  feeling.  In  fact,  if  political  op- 


94  QUOTA   ORDERED 


poiients  were  assigned  to  some  responsible  military 
position,  it  was  not  because  of  fitness  or  qualifica 
tion  for  it. 

The  personal  knowledge  and  experience  of  Gov. 
Tompkins  in  military  affairs  made  him  competent 
to  efficiently  perform  this  part  of  his  prerogative, 
and  nowhere  was  it  more  extensively  exercised  and 
efficiently  carried  out  than  in  the  crisis  of  the  war 
in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1814,  as  his  military 
orders  will  show. 

The  quota  to  be  furnished  by  New  York  city  was 
assigned  by  the  Governor's  order  as  follows  :  From 
third  brigade  of  infantry,  commanded  by  Gen.  P.  P. 
Van  Zandt,  580  officers  and  men ;  from  the  tenth 
brigade  of  infantry,  commanded  by  Gen.  Gerard 
Steddiford,  550  officers  and  men  ;  from  Gen.  Mor 
ton's  brigade  of  artillery,  450  officers  and  men  ;  from 
Lieut. -Col.  James  Warner's  cavalry,  235  officers 
and  men  ;  and  from  Gen.  Jacob  Odell's  regiment,  190 
officers  and  men  ;  from  the  twenty-second  brigade 
of  infantry,  composed  of  the  counties  of  Kings  and 
Queens,  under  Gen.  Jacob  S.  Jackson,  320  officers 
and  men  ;  from  the  thirty-third  brigade,  290  officers 
and  men  ;  from  the  fifteenth  brigade,  350  officers  and 
men,  and  from  all  other  brigades  the  same  propor 
tion  in  officers  and  men. 

The  order  provided  as  follows  : 

"Every  division  of  infantry  may  furnish  one- 
tenth  of  its  quota  in  riflemen  to  be  properly  organiz 
ed  into  distinct  corps." 

( i  The  commanding  officer  of  each  brigade  to  organ 
ize  the  quota  into  companies  and  troops,  and  to 
assign  the  captains  and  subalterns  of  his  brigade. 
The  companies  and  troops  to  be  formed  into  battal- 


FROM  NEW  YORK  CITY.  95 

ions,  squadrons  and  regiments,  and  the  majors  there 
of  assigned  by  the  general  of  the  division." 

"  The  detachment  from  the  first  brigade  of  artil 
lery  will  be  organized  into  two  batteries  of  three 
companies  each  ;  one  commanded  by  Major  Robert 
Swartwout,  and  the  other  by  Major  John  Bleecker, 
and  to  report  to  the  officers  of  United  States  army 
commanding  in  the  harbor  of  New  York." 

' i  Should  any  company  or  corps  of  artillery,  caval 
ry  or  riflemen  volunteer  as  part  of  the  detachment, 
such  company  or  corps  will  continue  to  be  command 
ed  in  the  detachment  by  the  officers  under  and  with 
whom  the  said  company  or  corps  shall  volunteer. " 

"  Companies  and  troops  shall  consist  as  nearly  as 
may  be  practicable  of  seventy-five  men  each,  officers 
included  ;  four  of  these  will  constitute  a  battalion 
or  squadron.  A  regiment  of  infantry  or  artillery  is 
to  compose  two  battalions,  and  a  regiment  of  caval 
ry  two  squadrons." 

"All  to  be  armed  and  equipped  and  ready  to 
march  at  a  moment's  warning." 

"  Whenever  the  detachment  and  organization 
shall  have  been  effected  the  respective  corps  are  to 
be  exercised  by  the  officers  assigned  to  command 
them  ;  but  are  not  to  remain  embodied  or  considered 
in  actual  service  until  by  subsequent  orders  they 
shall  be  commanded  to  take  the  field." 

The  commandants  of  the  regiments  of  militia  in 
the  city  were  ordered  to  make  returns  by  ten  o'clock 
on  April  29th,  of  all  the  effective  men  under  their 
command  preparatory  to  an  immediate  draft. 

Under  the  State  militia  law  when  the  quota  as 
signed  had  to  be  made  up  by  drafting,  the  11011- com 
missioned  officers  must  be  drawn  for  from  those  of 


-96  DRAFTING  MILITIA. 

like  rank  desired,  and  privates  from  the  enrolled 
privates,  and  in  no  case  were  officers  to  be  drawn 
to  serve  as  privates,  nor  privates  drawn  to  serve  as 
officers.  The  general  order  of  April  21st  provided 
for  the  assignment  of  commissioned  officers  under 
the  call. 

Where  privates  were  not  present  to  draw  for  them 
selves  the  captain  of  his  company  drew  for  him. 

The  following  is  a  notice  which  was  sent  to  those 
drawn  for  that  service  : 

"85TH  REGT.,  IOTH  BRIGADE. 

"NEW  YORK,  May  7th,  1812. 

''Sir: — Take  notice  that  having  been  this  day 
drafted  as  part  of  the  detachment  from  the  brigade, 
you  are  to  keep  yourself  in  readiness  to  march  at  a 
moment's  warning  with  the  following  arms  and  ac 
coutrements,  viz.  : 

"  A  good  musket,  a  sufficient  bayonet  and  belt,  two 
spare  flints  and  a  knapsack,  a  pouch,  with  a  box 
therein,  to  contain  no  less  than  twenty-four 
cartridges  suited  to  the  bore  of  the  musket,  each 
cartridge  to  contain  a  proper  quantity  of  powder 
and  ball,  and  the  musket  to  be  of  bore  sufficient  for 
balls  of  the  eighteenth  part  of  a  pound.  Hereafter 
you  will  receive  your  orders  from  the  officer  to  be 
appointed  to  command  the  detachment,  or  from  one 
of  the  captains  under  him. 

1 '  By  order  of 

"EDWARD  W.  LAIGHT, 
"Lieut. -Col.  Commdt., 

"85thKegt.,  10th  Brigade. 
•"ROBERT  I.  WATTS,  Adjt." 


UNITED  STATES  TROOPS  IN  NKW    YORK.         97 

By  brigade  orders  of  the  third  and  tenth 
brigades  of  infantry  and  of  the  first  brigade  of  artil 
lery,  officers  were  assigned  to  those  drafted  or  vol 
unteering  for  service  in  the  detachments  from  each 
regiment,  in  accordance  with  the  Governor's  order 
of  21st  of  April. 

In  the  early  part  of  June  Gov.  Tompkins  received 
the  following  from  the  United  States  Secretary  of 
War: 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT. 

"  May  26,  1812. 

"  Sir : — I  am  directed  by  the  President  to  request 
your  Excellency  10  order  into  actual  service,  on  the 
requisition  of  Gen.  Bloomfield,  such  part  of  the 
quota  of  the  militia  of  the  State  of  New  York  re 
quired  by  my  letter  of  the  15th  of  April,  as  may  be 
deemed  necessary  for  the  defence  of  the  city  and 
harbor  of  New  York. 

a  I  have  the  honor  to' be,  Sir, 

6  i  Your  obedient  servant, 

1  <  His  Excellency,  ' l  W.  EUSTIS. 

"D.  D.  TOMPKINS,  Albany." 

Gen.  Bloomfield  had  not  yet  taken  command. 

Col.  Henry  Burbeck,  of  the  United  States  artillery, 
was  in  command  at  New  York  city  and  harbor 
where  he  had  been  for  some  months  previous.  His 
headquarters  were  at  the  fort  off  the  Battery  (now 
Castle  Garden). 

On  Governor's  Island  were  Capt.  John  M.  Connel 
ly,  of  the  Pennsylvania  line,  and  Capt.  B.  S.  Ogden, 
of  the  New  Jersey  line,  both  of  the  third  United  States 
.artillery. 

The  thirteenth  regiment  of  infantry,   under  Col. 


98  VOLUNTEER  MILITIA. 

P.  P.  Schuyler,  and  Lieut. -Col.  John  Christie,, 
and  Capt.  John  Sproull,  of  the  New  York  line, 
were  at  various  points  in  and  about  the  city  and 
harbor. 

The  recruiting  for  service  in  the  United  States 
army  commenced  in  January,  soon  after  the  law 
authorizing  its  increase  to  25,000^men.  Kecruiting. 
districts  were  established  by  the  secretary  of  war. 
New  York  State  »was  divided  into  three  districts, 
the  first  comprising  all  that  part  of  the  State  south 
of  Poughkeepsie.  The  rendezvous  was  in  New  York 
city. 

About  the  end  of  January,  Major  Alexander 
Macomb,  Jr.,  of  the  corps  of  engineers,  came  to 
New  York  city  as  superintendent  of  the  recruiting 
district.  He  had  removed  here  in  his  infancy  with 
his  father,  but  had  been  for  some  time  in  the  army. 
His  father,  Alexander  Macomb,  was  a  respectable 
merchant,  residing  at  67  Greenwich  street,  and  the 
son,  with  his  family,  became  the  guest  of  his  father 
while  stationed  in  the  city.  This  young  man,  then 
thirty  years  of  age,  afterward  became  one  of  the 
most  famous  heroes  of  the  war,  and  died  in  1841  a 
major-general  and  general-in-chief  of  the  United 
States  army. 

Among  the  volunteer  militia  artillery  on  duty  in 
the  city  in  May  and  the  early  part  of  June,  were 
companies  from  Schenectady,  Albany,  Ulster,  Kock- 
land,  Orange  and  Dutchess  counties.  On  the  5th  of 
June  those  on  duty  here  paraded  at  the  Battery  at 
3  o'clock  and  were  reviewed  by  Gen.  Bloomfield. 

On  June  6,  Mr.  Eustis,  secretary  of  war,  reported 
to  the  United  States  senate  committee,  that  3,000 
men  were  necessary  to  man  the  works  in  New  York 


NEW  JERSEY  MILITIA.  99 

harbor,  exclusive  of  the  Narrows,  and  that  there 
were  then  901  already  there,  including  detached  mi 
litia  and  volunteers. 

He  also  reported  that  six  companies  of  New  Jersey 
militia  artillery  had  been  detached  for  the  forts  in 
New  York  city  and  harbor,  and  that  they  had  been 
recalled  by  Gov.  Bloomfield,  of  New  Jersey,  as  not 
needed  ;  but  they  were  in  readiness  to  repair  to  the 
batteries  in  New  York  when  required. 

In  the  early  part  of  June,  Gov.  Bloomfield  order 
ed  500  of  the  New  Jersey  militia  infantry  to  ren 
dezvous  at  Powles'  Hook.  This  was  for  the  purpose 
of  military  instruction  and  discipline,  and  they 
were  not  deemed  in  service  under  the  President's 
call. 

The  quota  of  militia  from  New  Jersey  under  the 
President's  call  of  April  for  detached  militia  was  five 
thousand  men.  Many  of  them  were  intended  for 
the  defence  of  New  York  city  and  harbor — some  of 
them  were  to  be  stationed  at  the  Highland  of  Nave- 
sink  and  at  Sandy  Hook — and  at  Powles'  Hook  if 
necessary. 

Gen.  Bloomfield  was  assigned  to  the  command  at 
New  York,  and  the  following  order  issued  : 

"  U.  S.  ARMY. — GENERAL  ORDERS. 
"  HEADQUARTERS,  NEW  YORK,  June  8,  1812. 
"  The  troops,  regular  and  militia,  in  the  city  and 
harbor  of  New  York  and  that  part  of  New  York 
which  lies  below  the  Highlands,    including  West 
Point,  and  in  New  Jersey,  are  confided  to  the  com 
mand  of  Brig. -Gen.  Bloomfield. 

"Capt.  Macpherson,  of  the  light  artillery,  is  ap 
pointed  aid-de-camp,  and  Capt.  Hunter  of  the  in- 


100  IMPORTANT  ORDERS. 

fantry,  major  of  brigade.     They  will  be  obeyed  and 
respected  accordingly. 

' '  The  General  takes  the  earliest  opportunity  to  ten 
der  his  thanks  to  Col.  Burbeck,  the  commandant  of 
the  forts  in  the  harbor,  to  Col.  Williams,  of  the  corps 
of  engineers,  and  Col.  Schuyler  and  Lieut. -Col. 
Christie,  of  the  infantry,  for  the  information  de 
rived  from  the  several  reports  of  their  respective 
commands. 

"  Col.  Burbeck  will  cause  to  be  instructed  in  the 
artillery  exercise  the  detachment  of  the  Pennsylva 
nia  line  at  Fort  Columbus,  under  Capt.  Connelly, 
the  detachment  of  the  New  York  line  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Sproull,  and  Capt.  Ogden's  com 
pany  of  artillery  of  the  Jersey  line. 

"  Col.  Williams  will  be  furnished  from  the  infantry, 
with  the  men  required  to  complete  the  fortifications 
in  the  harbor. 

"Lieut. -Col.  Brearley  will  forward,  under  the 
command  of  proper  officers,  to  Fort  Columbus  all  the 
recruits  which  are  collected,  or  shall  arrive  at  the 
depot  in  Trenton,  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  Jersey 
lines. 

"Capt.  Snowden,  military  storekeeper  at  West 
Point,  will  deliver  arms  and  equipments  for  the  in 
fantry  to  Deputy  Quartermaster  Vande venter  and 
who  will  deliver  the  same  as  hereafter  shall  be  di 
rected. 

"  By  order, 
"R.  H.  MACPHERSON,  Aid- de-camp." 

On  June  13th  Brig. -Gen.  Bloomfield  arrived  in 
New  York  city  from  his  home  in  New  Jersey  to  take 
command  of  the  defences  of  the  city  and  harbor  of 
New  York. 


GOVERN  OR' 8  ORDERS.  101 

By  general  orders  dated  June  18th,  the  detached 
militia  of  the  State  of  New  York  were  formed  in 
two  divisions  and  eight  brigades.  Each  brigade 
was  composed  of  from  two  to  three  regiments. 

The  second  division  covered  the  territory  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Hudson  River  and  included  the 
counties  of  Orange,  Rockland  and  Ulster.  This 
division  was  composed  of  the  first,  second,  third 
and  eighth  brigades  of  detached  militia. 

The  other  parts  of  the  State  was  covered  by  the 
first  division. 

Benjamin  Mooers,  of  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  a  veteran 
of  the  Revolution,  was  assigned  the  command  as 
major-general.  The  orders  further  required  militia 
companies  to  consist  of  seventy-five  men,  including 
officers  ;  four  companies,  a  battalion  or  squadron  ; 
a  regiment  of  artillery  or  infantry  to  comprise  two 
battalions  ;  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  two  squadrons. 

The  first  brigade  of  infantry  was  placed  under 
command  of  General  Gerard  Steddiford,  and  was 
composed  of  three  regiments  of  detached  infantry 
and  a  regiment  of  artillery  (the  sixth  artillery, 
under  Lieut. -Gol.  Stephen  Thorn,  of  Essex  county). 

To  the  men  detached  from  the  tenth  brigade 
of  militia  (Gen.  Steddiford's),  Beekman  M.  Van 
Buren,  of  New  York  city,  was  assigned  as  lieuten 
ant-colonel  and  was  known  as  the  first  regiment  of 
detached  militia. 

The  second  detached  regiment  included  the  men 
from  the  third  brigade  of  militia  (Gen.  Van  Zandt's). 
Jonas  Mapes,  of  New  York  city,  was  assigned  as 
lieutenant-colonel. 

The  third  regiment  was  made  up  from  the  twenty- 
second  and  thirty-third  brigade,  and  was  assigned 


102  ASSIGNMENT  OF 


to  the  command  of   Lieut. -Col.    John   Ditmis,   of 
Jamaica,  L.  I. 

The  cavalry  detached  for  the  first  division  was 
formed  into  a  regiment  of  three  squadrons  and 
placed  under  command  of  George  D.  Wickham,  of 
Goshen,  Orange  county,  James  Warner,  of  New 
York  city,  and  Theodore  Ross,  of  Elizabethtown, 
Essex  county,  were  assigned  as  majors  thereof. 

Samuel  Slee,  of  Poughkeepsie,  was  assigned  by 
Maj. -General  Stevens  to  command  the  battalion  of 
artillery,  detached  from  first  and  second  brigades  of 
artillery  and  Major  Peter  C.  Fox,  of  Montgomery 
county,  to  command  of  those  detached  from  third 
briga/le  of  artillery. 

Gen.  George  McClure,  of  Bath,  Steuben  county, 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  eighth  brigade  of  the 
detached  militia,  which  was  composed  of  Lieut. -Col. 
George  D.  Wickham' s  regiment  of  cavalry,  a  regi 
ment  of  light  infantry,  and  a  regiment  of  riflemen, 
under  Francis  McClure.  Jeremiah  Johnson,  of 
Brooklyn,  was  assigned  to  command  the  light  in 
fantry;  (Gen.  Johnson  was  at  that  time  in  com 
mand  of  the  twenty-second  brigade  of  militia  in 
fantry  in  Kings  and  Queens  counties). 

Francis  McClure's  regiment  of  riflemen  was  a 
New  York  city  regiment  called  the  ' (  Republican 
Greens,"  and  was  known  in  the  city  as  the  "  Irish 
Greens  "  because  of  the  nationality  of  its  command 
er  and  its  members,  and  from  the  color  of  their 
uniform.  On  the  20th  of  June  this  regiment  and 
Capt.  Stryker's  riflemen  from  Brooklyn  were  con 
solidated  by  the  Governor  and  designated  as  the 
first  regiment  of  New  York  riflemen,  and  Francis 
McClure  was  assigned  to  its  command  as  major  by 


MILITIA    OFFICERS.  103 

the  G-ovemor.  The  uniform  of  the  "  Greens  "  was 
a  light  green  coat,  white  pantaloons  and  a  black 
helmet  cap  of  leather.  Capt.  Stryker's  company 
wore  green  coats. 

On  June  20th  one  hundred  artillerymen  of  the 
militia  detached  from  the  first  brigade  under  Major 
John  Bleecker  and  Major  Robert  Swart wout,  re 
spectively,  took  charge  of  North  Battery  (the  Eed 
fort)  off  Hubert  street,  for  thirty  days'  service. 

This  was  under  an  order  made  before  the  an 
nouncement  of  the  declaration  of  war. 

While  the  legislature  was  in  session,  many  offi 
cers  in  the  militia  were  commissioned  by  the  Council 
of  Appointment  to  fill  up  vacancies  and  for  new  or 
ganizations  which  were  rapidly  springing  up  in  all 
parts  of  the  State.  Many  orders  of  brevet  command 
were  also  issued  by  the  Governor  when  he  deemed 
them  expedient. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Gov.  Tornpkins  removes  his  Military  Headquarters  to  New  York 
City — Orders  the  Brigadier!?,  etc.,  to  furnish  Detached  Militia 
for  service  on  the  requisition  of  Gen.  Bloomfield — Major-Gen. 
Stevens  authorized  to  call  out  the  entire  Brigade  of  Artillery  in 
case  of  invasion  of  New  York — Sketch  of  Gen.  Ebenezer 
Stevens — Artillery  Target  Practice — Incidents—Drafted  Militia 
from  the  City — Volunteers  from  Hudson  River  counties,  New 
York  city,  Brooklyn  and  New  Jersey— Deserter  sentenced  to 
be  shot — Militia  stationed  at  approaches  to  New  York  city. 

HEN  the  State  legislature  finally 
,  adjourned  on  the  19th  of  June  the 
members  had  not  heard  of  the  dec 
laration  of  war  being  passed  by  the 
Senate.  Governor  Tompkins  pro 
ceeded  at  once  to  New  York  city, 
where  he  had  a  residence  on  the  Bow 
ery  near  North  (now  Houston) 

street.     His  headquarters   as    military  commander 

of  the  State   militia   followed  him  to  New  York. 

The  adjutant-general  of  the  State   was   Lieut.  -Col. 

Wm.  Paulding,  Jr. ,  of  the  ninety-seventh  regiment 

of  infantry  in  the  tenth  brigade.* 

The  Governor  was  always  ready  to  co-operate  or 

counsel  with  any  of  the  authorities,  civil  or  military, 

to  aid  in  the  defence  of  the  city. 

*  He  was  a  lawyer  of  wealth  and  resided  in  New  York  city,  and 
was  then  a  member  of  Congress.  While  he  was  attending  to  his 
duties  as  adjutant-general  of  the  State  he  was  relieved  of  command 
of  his  regiment  and  it  was  placed  in  command  of  Major  Clarkson 
Crolius  in  April,  1812.  After  the  war  he  was  mayor  of  the-eity  arid 
major-general  of  the  twenty-eighth  division  of  New-  York  State 
militia. 


MAJOR-GEN.  STEVENS.  105 

On  June  27th,  general  orders  New  York  State, 
were  issued  by  Governor  Tompkins  as  follows: 

"  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 
"  HEADQUARTERS,  NEW  YORK  CITY,  June  27,  1812. 

"The  commander-in- chief  is  required  by  the 
President  to  order  into  service  upon  the  requisition 
of  Gen.  Bloomfield,  for  the  defence  of  the  southern 
portion  of  this  State,  a  part  of  the  detachment  of 
13,500  men. 

"  Major-Gen.  Stevens*  will,  therefore,  by  division 
orders  require  Gen.  Morton  to  order  out,  upon  the 
requisition  aforesaid,  such  part  of  the  detachment 
from  his  brigade  of  artillery  as  may  not  already 
have  been  called  upon  for  that  purpose,  and  in  case 
of  invasion  of  any  part  of  the  southern  district  of 

*  Ebenezer  Stevens  was  born  at  Boston  in  1752;  was  member  of 
"  Boston  Tea  Party  "  in  1773  when  a  cargo  of  tea  was  emptied  into 
Boston  harbor.  In  1775  was  commissioned  lieutenant  of  company 
of  artillery  from  Rhode  Island.  Proceeded  in  mid-winter  over  the 
Green  Mountains,  by  way  of  Otter  Creek,  on  Lake  Champlain,  with 
cannon  and  howitzers  to  join  Gen.  Montgomery  in  Canada  on  the 
expedition  against  Quebec.  He  acted  as  captain  of  the  two  com 
panies  of  artillery  and  one  of  artificers.  At  Three  Rivers  he 
learned  of  the  defeat  of  the  American  forces,  and  returned  to  the 
forts  on  Lake  Champlain — was  made  a  major  by  brevet  and  com 
manded  the  artillery  at  Ticonderoga,  Crown  Point  and  other  places 
in  the  vicinity  under  Gen.  Schuyler  and  subsequently  under  Gen. 
Gates.  As  senior  officer  of  artillery  in  the  northern  department  he 
directed  the  artillery  operations  in  the  encounters  at  Stillwater, 
Bern  is  Heights,  and  elsewhere  which  led  to  the  surrender  of  Gen. 
Burgoyue  at  Saratoga  in  October,  1777.  and  was  present  at  that  event. 
Received  the  thanks  of  the  Continental  Congress  in  1778  for  merit  in 
campaigns  of  1776-77,  and  was  commissioned  lieutenant- colonel  of 
artillery.  Up  to  that  time  his  command  had  been  included  in  the 
Massachusetts  line  as  part  of  Col.  Crane's.  He  was  transferred  to* 
Col.  Lamb's  regiment  of  New  York  line.  He  was  entrusted  witli 
the  defences  of  the  Hudson  River,  and  placed  a  chain  across  it  and 
other  obstructions  to  prevent  the  ships  of  the  enemy  from  ascending. 
In  1781  prepared  a  train  of  artillery  for  the  southern  service  and 
accompanied  Gen.  La  Fayette  to  the  head  of  Elk  River  in  Virginia. 
He  afterwards  was  alternate  in  command  of  the  American  artillery 
at  the  seige  of  Yorktown,  and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Lord 


106  SERVICES  REQUIRED   OF 

this  State,  he  will  by  virtue  of  this  order  consider 
himself  fully  authorized  to  call  out  immediately  the 
whole  of  the  said  brigade  for  the  purpose  of  repell 
ing  such  invasion. 

"  Gen.  Stevens  is  also  required  to  devise  and 
announce  beforehand  a  plan  for  assembling  the 
artillery  detachment,  and  also  the  whole  brigade, 
most  expeditiously  upon  a  sudden  emergency,  to  fix 
the  respective  places  of  rendezvous  for  the  detach 
ments,  and  their  line  of  march  to  their  respective 
places  of  destination,  so  as  not  to  retard  each  other. 
Much  reliance  is  placed  by  the  commander-in-chief 
in  the  intelligence,  experience  and  patriotism  of 
Major- Gen.  Stevens,  and  upon  his  devotedness  to 
render  important  services  to  his  country  in  the 
present  trying  crisis.  His  Excellency  confidently 

Cornwallis  in  October,  1781.  He  rode  on  horseback  at  the  head  of 
the  artillery  of  the  American  army  on  their  entrance  into  New  York 
city  on  November  25th,  1783,  after  the  evacuation  by  the  British. 
He  continued  in  the  service  until  the  army  was  disbanded  in  1783. 
He  entered  into  commercial  business  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  re 
mained  there  until  he  removed  to  New  York  city  in  1787,  and  be 
came  a  leading  merchant  there.  He  was  in  business  in  New  York 
city  at  the  time  of  Washington's  first  inauguration,  but  did  not  take 
part  in  the  military  parade  because  the  artillery  was  not  represented 
on  that  occasion.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Tammany 
Society  in  1789.  In  March,  1798,  as  a  representative  of  the  New 
York  Chamber  of  Commerce,  he  proceeded  to  Philadelphia  with  a 
petition  to  Congress  asking  for  an  appropriation  to  further  fortify 
New  York  harbor.  He  became  the  agent  of  the  war  department  and 
superintended  the  construction  of  the  fortifications  on  Governor's 
Island  in  1800;  was  member  of  New  York  Legislature  in  1800  and 
assistant  alderman  in  New  York  city  in  1802;  was  major-general  of 
artillery  of  New  York  State  some  time  before  the  war  of  1812  and 
continued  in  service  until  the  end  of  the  war  in  1815,  when  he  re 
signed  and  withdrew  from  public  service.  His  services  in  that  war 
will  be  detailed  in  the  subsequent  pages  of  this  work. 

In  Trumbull's  famous  painting,  in  the  rotunda  of  the  capitol  at 
Washington,  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  Col.  Stevens  is  a  promi 
nent  figure  leaning  on  a  cannon,  and  in  the  painting  of  the  surrender 
of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  by  the  same  artist,  Col.  Stevens  is 
mounted  at  the  head  of  an  artillery  regiment.  He  died  in  1823. 


MAJOR-GEN.  STEVENS.  107 

hopes  that  the  General  will  exert  his  talents,  his  in 
fluence,  and  his  official  authority  to  produce  a  vig 
orous  prosecution  of  the  war,  as  the  most  certain 
means  of  ensuring  a  speedy,  honorable  and  prosper 
ous  consummation  of  it,  and  a  consequent  happy 
and  durable  peace. 

"  WM.  PAULDING,  JR.,  Adjt.-Gen." 

On  same  day  (June  27)  Major- General  Van  Rens- 
selaer  ordered  Brigadier- General  Giles  to  order 
Lieut.  -Col.  Jacob  Odell's  regiment  of  cavalry  into 
service. 

On  the  28th,  eighty  of  the  recruits  enlisted  at 
Hudson,  N.Y.,  and  drilled  by  Major  Backus  and  En 
sign  McClelland,  were  placed  on  Governor's  Island 
for  duty. 

Some  of  the  regimental  commanders  ordered  their 
captains  to  make  a  new  enrollment  of  all  those 
within  their  districts  and  make  a  return  of  the 
names  and  places  of  residence  of  every  citizen  they 
may  enroll,  to  the  adjutant. 

The  following  order  was  issued  by  Lieut.  -Col.  Van 
Buren  : 

"115TH  EEGT.,  IOTH  BRIGADE, 
"  CITY  AN])  COUNTY  OF  NEW  YORK,  June  29,  1812. 

' i  Commandants  of  companies  are  hereby  ordered 
to  make  a  new  enrollment  of  their  respective  com 
panies  and  districts  on  or  before  the  third  day  of 
July,  and  make  a  return  of  the  name  and  place  of 
residence  of  every  citizen  they  may  enroll,  to  the 
adjutant  at  his  quarters,  No.  68  Wall  street,  on  or 
before  that  day.  It  is  expected  that  officers  will  be 
particular  in  making  their  enrollment.  The  times 


108  UNITED  STATES  ARTILLERY,  ETC. 

demand  that   every  person  subject  to  do  military 
duty  should  be  enrolled." 

About  the  first  of  July  Lieut. -Col.  David  Brearley, 
of  the  fifteenth  United  States  infantry,  with  five 
hundred  men  came  to  New  York  and  took  com 
mand  of  the  troops  and  fortifications  at  the  Narrows. 

In  the  fore  part  of  July  Gen.  Bloomfield  assigned 
Col.  Jonathan  Williams  to  take  command  of  Castle- 
William  on  Governor's  Island.  On  the  6th  of  July, 
1812,  Major  Alexander  Macomb,  Jr.  (afterwards 
major-general  of  the  United  States  army),  of  the 
corps  of  engineers,  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
third  regiment  of  United  States  artillery,  and  on  the 
31st  of  July  Col.  Jonathan  Williams,  chief  engineer, 
resigned  his  commission  in  the  United  States  army  in 
consequence  of  the  dissatisfaction  expressed  by  some 
of  the  artillery  at  his  being  assigned  to  the  command 
of  Castle  Williams,  and  the  complications  arising 
out  of  the  same,  which  threatened  to  deprive  him  of 
this  command  to  which  he  felt  himself  entitled  by 
his  rank  and  services.  Under  the  army  regulations 
this  brought  Major  Joseph  G.  Swift  forward,  and  he 
became  colonel  and  chief  engineer,  with  headquar 
ters  at  New  York  city. 

There  were  only  two  hundred  artillerymen  of 
the  United  States  army  in  the  forts  near  New  York 
city  at  the  end  of  July,  1812.  All  the  other  artillery 
were  from  the  militia  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

July  25th,  on  Sunday  morning,  an  artillery  regi 
ment  attended  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church  in  a  body, 
in  uniform  and  side  arms,  and  fife  and  drums.  On 
leaving  church  after  the  service  they  marched  out 
to  the  tune  of  "  Yankee  Doodle."  Many  of  the  citi 
zens  did  not  like  a  demonstration  of  this  kind,  and 


FIRST  VOLUNTEER  REGIMENT.  109 

freely  said  so.  It  was  claimed  that  they  opposed 
the  war  and  whatever  was  done  in  that  direction. 

It  is  probable  that  the  artillery  regiment  referred 
to,  consisted  of  the  battalions  under  command  of 
Col.  Robert  Swartwout  and  Col.  John  Bleecker,  as 
they  were  stationed  at  the  battery  off  Hubert  street, 
which  was  very  near  St.  John's  church. 

July  2 7th,  Ma j.- General  Coles  was  ordered  by  the 
Governor  to  send  detached  infantry  of  New  York 
city  and  Westchester,  Kings  and  Richmond  coun 
ties,  to  Gen.  Bloomfield  at  New  York  city  when 
asked  for  by  requisition. 

Gen.  Van  Zandt,  of  the  third  brigade,  issued  an 
order  on  the  27th  of  July  that  no  officer  in  the 
brigade  should  be  absent  from  the  city  for  more  than 
twelve  hours  without  a  furlough. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  Col.  Cornelius  Har- 
sen's  artillery  regiment  on  July  29th,  1812,  it  was 
resolved  that  the  regiment  offer  their  services  as  a 
body  to  the  Governor  under  the  general  order  of 
April  21,  1812.  It  was  accepted  early  in  August  as 
a  part  of  the  quota  of  militia  from  New  York.  It  is 
said  that  this  was  the  first  regiment  of  volunteers  in 
the  war. 

Some  companies  of  Col.  Harseii's  regiment  were 
posted  on  Bedloe's  Island,  Staten  Island,  and  the 
Narrows  at  New  Utrecht,  and  elsewhere  in  New 
York  harbor.  Capt.  Barnet  Anderaise,  of  the  second 
company,  was  stationed  at  Bedloe's  Island. 

Lieut. -Col.  Harsen's  (the  eleventh)  regiment  was 
a  new  one,  being  almost  entirely  recruited  within 
the  three  months  previous.  He  received  his  com- 
mission  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  eleventh  regi 
ment  of  artillery,  on  the  26th  of  May.  It  was  compos- 


110  ARTILLERY  TARGET 

ed  of  a  battalion  of  artillery  and  one  of  infantry.  It 
was  designated  as  the  eleventh  regiment  New  York 
State  artillery,  and  contained  about  300  men.* 

Aug.  llth,  1812,  General  Bloomfield  was  relieved 
of  his  command  at  New  York,  under  order  of  Aug. 
3d,  and  Brigadier- General  John  Armstrong  took 
command. 

Aug.  12,  1812,  General  Armstrong,  commanding 
at  New  York,  requested  Gov.  Bloomfield,  of  New 
Jersey,  to  detail  five  hundred  militia  to  repair  to 
Fort  Kichmond,  Staten  Island,  by  the  20th  of  Au 
gust,  1812.  They  were  accordingly  detailed  from 
Major-Gen.  Ludlow's  division  of  New  Jersey  mil 
itia.  There  were  eleven  companies  under  command 
of  Major  Isaac  Andrus,  and  were  to  report  to  Ge'n. 
Armstrong  at  New  York  city. 

On  August  14th  there  was  target  practice  by  the 
artillery  militia  from  Castle  Williams  and  the  fort 
at  the  Battery.  The  target  was  an  o]d  hulk  an 
chored  in  the  bay  about  one  thousand  yards  from 
the  shore,  equi-distant  from  Castle  Williams  and 
the  fort  at  the^Battery.  The  stern  of  the  vessel  was 
presented  for  the  target.  The  firing  commenced  by 
Gen.  Morton's  brigade  from  6,  9,  12  and  18-pounders 

*  The  United  States  official  Army  Register  does  not  mention  this 
regiment  or  any  of  its  officers,  neither  does  it  mention  that  there  was 
any  first  regiment  of  United  States  volunteers  from  New  York,  but 
it  contains  the  second  and  third  regiments  of  United  States  volun 
teers  from  New  York.  The  eleventh  regiment  was  in  service  during 
the  entire  war  and  the  cause  of  omission  to  mention  it  in  an  official  pub 
lication  cannot  now  be  ascertained  by  the  writer,  but  he  presumes  that 
it  was  always  considered  as  a  detachment  from  the  New  York  mil 
itia,  and  although  mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  yet  did 
not  technically  belong  to  the  United  States  army  as  volunteers  or 
otherwise.  Gardner's  Army  Register  does  not  mention  any  of  the 
officers  of  this  regiment  nor  any  of  the  militia  of  any  State  de 
tached  or  mustered  into  active  service  of  the  United  States  in  the 
war  of  1812. 


PRACTICE  IN  THE  CITY.  lit 

stationed  on  the  Battery  parade.  The  veteran  corps 
of  artillery  commanded  by  Captain  Delamater  fired 
several  shots  from  a  "long  nine  "which  raked  the 
hull  of  the  target  repeatedly.  The  detachment  from 
Gen.  Morton's  brigade  on  duty  in  the  fort  at  the 
battery  also  fired  several  shots  which  passed  directly 
through  the  hull.  Several  heavy  shot  from  the 
guns  in  Castle  Williams  also  hulled  the  target.  Af 
ter  the  firing  had  continued  two  hours  the  hulk  was 
perceived  to  be  on  fire.  This  was  caused  by  a  few 
of  the  hot  shot  fired  by  Col.  Cur^eiiius'  regiment, 
and  which  were  heated  in  a  traveling  forge  attached 
to  the  brigade — no  hot  shot  were  fired  from  the  forts. 
After  the  firing  had  ceased  a  number  of  officers  and 
many  citizens  went  on  board  and  on  examination  it 
appeared  that  almost  every  shot  had  done  consider 
able  injury,  as  there  was  not  a  .place  about  the  ves 
sel  four  feet  square  which  had  not  been  struck  or 
perforated  by  the  shot.  The  mizzeiimast  was  nearly 
cut  through  about  two  feet  above  the  deck,  the  fore 
mast  and  mainmast  had  received  several  balls  (ap 
parently  six-pouriders),  and  the  pumps  and  bow 
sprit  were  much  shattered. 

The  following  is   a  detailed  statement  of  the  re 
sult  : 

Guns.    Took  effect.    Missed. 

From  Castle  Williams,  30  27  3 
"  Fort  at  the  Battery,  40  36  4 
"  Artillery  at  Battery,  244  191  53 

Total,     .  ^'  .       314         254        60 

The  next  morning  one  of  the  city  daily  papers  said 
of  this  firing  : 

"  We  congratulate  our  fellow  citizens  on  the  evi- 


112  TARGET  PRACTICE 

deiice  they  afforded  that  we  are  possessed  of  ade 
quate  means  for  the  defence  of  our  harbor,  and  that 
it  depends  with  ourselves  whether  New  York  shall 
become  -at  any  time  the  victim  of  British  rapacity." 
A  few  days  afterwards  Lieut. -Col.  Joseph  G. 
Swift,  then  in  command  of  the  corps  of  engineers  of 
the  United  States  at  New  York,  to  further  satisfy 
the  public,  and  being  desirous  of  establishing,  by  un 
equivocal  experiments,  the  accuracy  and  effect  of  a 
32-pound  shot  fired  across  the  Narrows,  requested 
Captain  Chauncey,  commandant  of  the  navy  yard 
and  flotilla  in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  to  favor  him 
with  his  assistance.  Captain  Chauncey  obligingly 
ordered  gunboat  No.  6,  commanded  by  Lieutenant 
Kearney,  on  that  duty. 

In  order  to  give  the  utmost  authenticity  to  the  in 
tended  experiments,  the  commandant  asked  Brig.  - 
Gen.  Morton,  who  had  previously  intimated  his  wish 
to  have  the  minds  of  the  citizens  of  New  York  satis 
fied  as  to  this  important  fact,  to  attend  on  the 
occasion,  with  such  other  gentlemen  as  he  might 
think  proper.  Accordingly,  Col.  Alex.  Macomb, 
Jr.,  of  the  engineers,  went  in  the  morning  on 
board  of  No.  6,  and  was  soon  after  joined  by 
Captain  Chauncey,  General  Morton,  Colonel  Cur- 
tenius,  Major  John  Bleecker,  and  Captain  Anthony 
Bleecker,  of  the  brigade  of  artillery.  The  gunboat 
dropped  down  to  the  Narrows,  and  came  to  anchor 
in  twelve  feet  of  water  on  the  edge  of  Hendrick's 
Reef,  at  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards  distance  from 
the  Long  Island  shore.  The  direct  distance  across 
the  Narrows  from  this  place  was  fourteen  hundred 
and  eighty-six  yards  ;  but  as  bushes  and  other  obsta 
cles  rendered  it  difficult  to  place  a  target Jto^advan- 


A  T  THE  NA  RRO  WS. 


11.3 


tage  in  that  direction,  a  spot  free  from  any  obstacles 
was  chosen  on  a  bluff  under  the  southernmost  private 
signal  staff  on  Staten  Island,  from  the  obliquity  of 
which  the  distance  was  increased  to  seventeen  hun 
dred  and  fifty  yards,  or  one  mile.  The  target  con 
sisted  of  a  small  white  flag,  containing  one  yard 
square  of  bunting.  The  following  table  exhibits 
the  result  of  the  experiments  from  the  reef : 

Charge. 


Shot.        Nature. 

1 

2 


Dist. 


32-p'nder.      8  Ibs.      1,750 


Right  of 
Target. 

2yds. 
10  yds. 
6yds. 


Left  of 
Target. 

5  yards):}: 


Above 
Target. 


Below 
Target.. 

3  yards. 


2yds. 


4 
5 
6 

7  «  f 

The  gunboat  then  warped  as  near  as  possible  to 
the  shore  and  within  the  line  of  wharves  on  Long 
Island  ;  and  from  this  position  made  the  following 
experiments.  The  gun,  in  this  instance  and  the 
foregoing,  was  pointed  and  fired  by  Captain  Chaun- 
cey : 

Shot.        Charge.       Distance.        Right  of  Target.  Remarks. 

1st.        81bs.          2,200  12yds.        On  a     horizontal     line 

with  the  target. 
3d.  Passed  through  the  tar- 

ft  and  buried  itself 
feet  in  the  bank. 

For  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  result  of  the 
firing,  Major  Bleecker,  Col.  Macomb  and  Mr.  Muh- 
lenberg,  of  the  navy,  were  stationed  in  a  barge  near 
the  shore,  and  examined  the  result  of  the  several 
shots. 

"  HEADQUARTERS,  NEW  YORK,  Aug.  18,  1812. 
"  On  reconsideration  of  the  services  to  be  per- 

*  Struck  at  the  foot  of  the  pole  of  the  target. 

t  Struck  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  passed  through. 

$  On  a  horizontal  line  with  the  target. 


MILITIA  ORDERED 


formed  as  well  at  the  Narrows  on  Staten  Island  as 
at  Sag  Harbor  on  Long  Island,  I  have  thought  it 
advisable  to  alter  and  extend  the  requisition  which 
I  had  yesterday  the  honor  of  making,  so  as  to  in 
clude  an  additional  company  of  infantry,  for  the 
former,  and  for  the  latter  instead  of  one  company  of 
horse  artillery  that  there  be  ordered  out  of  Gen. 
Eose's  brigade,  one  company  of  artillery,  one  of  in 
fantry,  and  one  troop  of  horse  or  horse  artillery. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  great  respect, 

"  Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  very 
humble  servant, 

"•Gov.  TOMPKINS."  "  JOHN  ARMSTRONG." 

August  19th,  1812,  the  following  New  York 
militia  companies  were  called  to  rendezvous  on 
August  27th,  1812,  to  proceed  to  the  defence  of  New 
York  city,  destined  for  Staten  Island,  for  ninety 
days'  service  and  to  embark  on  sloops  by  signal  gun 
at  folio  wing  places: 

Capt.  Walker,  artillery,  Albany. 

"     Wigton,  Hudson. 

tc     Stocking,       "        Catskill. 

"•    Nelson,  Poughkeepsie. 

"     Butterworth  "      .  Newburgh. 

"     Buckley,  light  infantry,  Albany. 

"     Pierson,       "  Athens. 

"     Lawson,      "  Poughkeepsie. 

"     Wilson,  do 

"     Denniston,  "          "          Newburgh. 

"     Birdsall,       "          "  do 

"      Dubois,       "  Catskill. 

They  were  all  from  the  second  brigade  of  detached 
militia. 


TO  NEW  YORK  CITY  115 

They  arrived  in  the  city  in  sloops  and  the  Gov 
ernor  issued  the  following  order : 

"  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK,  GENERAL  ORDERS. 

"HEADQUARTERS,  NEW  YORK,  Aug.  31s£,  1812. 

"  A  number  of  volunteer  corps  from  the  cities  of 
Albany  and  Hudson,  and  the  villages  of  Athens, 
Catskill,  Poughkeepsie  and  Newburgh,  have  arrived 
in  this  city  and  will,  together  with  Captain  Kartell's 
company  of  light  infantry,  rendezvous  at  the 
Arsenal,  at  the  corner  of  White  and  Elm  streets, 
to-morrow  morning,  September  the  first,  precisely  at 
seven  o'clock. 

"From  the  Arsenal  they  will  proceed  to  Whitehall 
and  there  embark  for  the  State  forts  at  Staten 
Island. 

"  As  the  above  mentioned  troops  are  destined  to 
aid  in  the  defence  and  protection  of  the  harbor 
and  city  of  New  York,  they  will  be  escorted  by  the 
uniform  troops  of  the  city  from  the  Arsenal  to 
Whitehall. 

' '  For  that  purpose  the  first  brigade  of  artillery,  the 
first  regiment  of  riflemen,  Major  Warner's  squadron 
of  cavalry,  and  the  uniform  independent  companies 
of  the  city  of  New  York,  not  attached  to  the  said 
brigade  regiments  and  squadron,  are  directed  to 
parade  uniformed  and  equipped  under  the  command 
of  Brigadier- General  Morton,  to-morrow  morning 
precisely  at  six  o'clock. 

( '  By  order  of  the  Commander-in-chief, 

(Signed)       "WILLIAM  PAULDING,  JUNR., 
"  Adjutant  General." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  reception  and  review  by 
the  Governor  he  issued  an  order  assigning  them  to 


116  MILITIA  ON  STATEN  ISLAND 

Fort  Kichmond  on  Staten  Island,  and  formed  them 
into  a  regiment  under  the  command  of  Lieut. -Col. 
Eobert  Swartwout,  who  was  to  report  the  state  of 
the  regiment  to  Brig. -Gen.  Armstrong,  who  the  a 
had  command  at  New  York. 

The  garrison  of  New  York  militia  in  Fort  Rich- 
mond  on  Staten  Island,  under  the  command  of 
Lieut. -Col.  Robert  Swartwout,  was  composed  of 
five  companies  of  artillery  and  eight  companies  of 
light  infantry.  The  fort  then  had  83  thirty-two- 
pounders  mounted  and  all  were  well  equipped. 

The  detachment  of  New  Jersey  militia  in  service 
there  consisted  of  eleven  companies  under  command 
of  Major  Isaac  Andrus  and  was  composed  of  about 
three  hundred  men. 

Aug.  26,  1812,  a  deserter  was  ordered  to  be  shot 
on  Governor's  Island.  He  had  deserted  five  times 
and  received  bounty  for  enlisting  three  times.  He 
was  taken  out  to  be  shot,  and  blindfolded,  and 
when  the  order  was  given,  it  was  "one,  two, 
three,  shoulder  arms  !''  He  had  been  pardoned  at 
the  last  moment. 

"  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK,  GENERAL  ORDERS, 
"  HEADQUARTERS,  ALBANY,  Aug.  26, 1812. 

"  Pursuant  to  a  requisition  of  General  Armstrong, 
by  the  authority  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  three  companies  of  40  men  each,  belonging 
to  the  thirty-third  brigade  of  infantry  of  this  State 
are  to  be  formed  and  put  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  for  the  defence  of  the  county  of  Suf 
folk. 

' '  One  company  of  foot  artillery  will  be  stationed 
at  Sag  Harbor  to  protect  the  arsenal  and  to  maneu- 


AND  FOR  SUFFOLK  COUNTY.  117 

vre  the  cannon  stored  at  the  place  in  the  event  of  an 
emergency  ;  one  company  of  infantry,  and  another 
of  horse  artillery  or  cavalry  will  be  ordered  into  ser 
vice  from  the  said  brigade  and  be  disposed  of  for  the 
defence  of  Suffolk  county  as  may  be  directed  by 
Brigadier- General  Hose.  General  Rose  will  also  as 
sign  the  officers  of  the  said  companies,  station  the 
said  companies  of  infantry  and  horse  artillery  or 
cavalry  as  he  may  deem  most  useful  for  the  protec 
tion  of  the  inhabitants  of  Suffolk  county,  and  will 
in  other  respects  regulate  the  organization  and  des 
tination  thereof.  The  said  companies  will  be  sub 
ject  to  the  orders  of  General  Armstrong  at  the  city 
of  New  York,  to  whom  the  commandants  of  said 
companies  will  report  themselves,  and  from  whom 
they  will  receive  further  instructions  and  orders. 
' '  By  order  of  the  Commander-in-chief, 

"  ROBERT  MACOMB, 
"Lieut. -Col.  and  Aid-de-camp." 

Aug.  31,  1812,  Gen.  Armstrong  called  on  the  Gov 
ernor  for  four  regiments  of  artillery  and  two  regi 
ments  of  infantry  to  rendezvous  at  the  Battery  on 
15th  of  September. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  1812,  the  500  New  Jer 
sey  militia  in  service  at  Powles'  Hook,  by  order  of 
the  Governor  of  New  Jersey  in  June,  were  relieved 
by  500  other  men,  for  a  period  of  ninety  days'  ser 
vice. 

On  September  3d,  the  commander-in  chief  ordered 
the  two  detached  regiments  of  infantry  and  first 
brigade  of  artillery  under  Brigadier-General  Morton 
(except  the  horse  artillery  and  the  companies  of  foot 
artillery  in  Suffolk  county)  to  rendezvous  on  the 
15th  of  September  in  New  York  city. 


118  MILITIA  IN  SERVICE 

Capt.  Piercy's  cavalry  and  Major  Warner's  squad 
ron  and  Capt.  Stryker's  company  of  riflemen  in 
Kings  county  are  ordered  into  service  and  into  Lieut.  - 
Col.  Van  Bur  en's  regiment,  all  to  be  encamped  in 
New  York  city  or  Kings  county,  subject  to  orders 
of  Gen.  Armstrong. 

The  horse  artillery  of  Gen.  Morton's  brigade  and 
the  foot  artillery  in  Suffolk  county,  Captain  Mun- 
son's  riflemen,  and  Captain  Seaman's  riflemen  were 
all  excepted  from  order  of  September  3d  above. 

The  first  regiment  of  detached  militia  infantry 
commanded  by  Col.  Beekman  M.  Van  Buren,  com 
posed  of  nine  companies  of  infantry  and  Captain 
Piercy's  cavalry,  were  assembled  as  required  and  or 
dered  on  duty  at  Bath,  L.  I.,  for  three  months' 
service. 

In  response  to  Gen.  Armstrong's  call  of  31st  of 
August  and  the  Governor's  order  of  September  3d, 
the  second  regiment  of  first  brigade  of  infantry,  com 
manded  by  Lieut. -Col.  Jonas  Mapes,  convened  at 
the  Battery  and  were  ordered  on  duty  at  New 
Utrecht  and  Bath,  L.  I.,  for  three  months,  consist 
ing  of  about  600  men  and  officers. 

Pursuant  to  order  of  the  Governor  and  also  of 
Gen.  Morton,  the  first  brigade  of  artillery  assembled 
on  the  15th  of  September  at  the  Battery,  equipped 
for  duty  and  were  conveyed  to  Bedloe's  and  Ellis 
Islands,  for  three  months'  service. 

We  have  before  mentioned  Major  Francis  Mc- 
Clure's  regiment  of  riflemen.  That  part  of  it  for 
merly  called  the  ' '  Republican  Greens "  having  ex 
pressed  a  desire  to  aid  in  the  conquest  of  Canada,  they 
were  excepted  from  the  command  of  Lieut.  -Col.  Van 
Buren,  stationed  on  Long  Island,  and  on  the  23d  of 


IN  THE  CITY.  119 


September  they  embarked  from  New  York  city  on 
board  sloops  to  Albany  as  volunteers  for  a  six 
months'  service  on  the  Niagara  frontier.  There  were 
five  companies  under  Captains  Tate,  Powers,  H. 
Walker,  Dillon,  and  A.  Walker.  Major  Francis 
McClure  was  in  command  of  the  regiment.* 

By  the  middle  of  September  we  have  seen  that 
the  city  and  the  various  important  points  about  the 
harbor  were  deemed  sufficiently  manned  to  put 
the  inhabitants  in  a  feeling  of  safety  against  inva 
sion. 

The  total  number  of  men  placed  into  service  to 
defend  New  York  city  and  vicinity,  that  were  con 
vened  in  September,  did  not  exceed  a  force  of  3,  500 
men  at  any  time  up  to  the  end  of  the  year.  Of 
these  2,200  were  New  York  State  militia,  about  500 
were  New  Jersey  militia,  and  the  remainder  were 
regulars  of  the  United  States  army. 

*  When  Major  McClure  arrived  at  the  Niagara  frontier  some 
volunteer  rifle  companies  from  Albany,  and  others  from  Balti 
more,  Md.,  were  added  to  his  regiment,  which  was  then  composed 
of  eleven  companies  and  about  350  men.  He  was  in  command 
of  it  as  Lieut. -Colonel.  He  was  in  command  of  a  corps  at  the 
attempted  conquest  of  Upper  Canada  by  Gen.  Alex.  Smyth  in 
November,  1812,  and  was  at  the  head  of  his  regiment  at  the 
capture  of  York  (Toronto),  in  April,  1813.  Was  in  command  of 
his  regiment  in  Gen.  Boyd's  brigade  at  the  capture  of  Fort 
George  on  27th  May,  1813. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Blockade  at  the  Narrows — British  Licenses  to  Merchant  Vessels 
— Privateering1  from  New  York — The  Gen.  Armstrong — 
Letters  of  Marque  Vessels— American  Privateers  and  their 
Prizes  in  French  Ports— Shipbuilders  of  New  York — First 
Victory  at  Sea— City  Council  honors  Capt  Hull— Other  Naval 
Victories. 

rHE  British  squadron  of  war  vessels 
on  our  coast  in  the  neighborhood 
of  New  York  in  July,  181 '2,  con 
sisted  of  the  Africa,  sixty-four 
guns,  Sparta,  Shannon  and  Belvi- 
dera,  thirty-eight  guns  each;  AHo- 
lus,  thirty-two  guns,  and,  it  was  re 
ported,  the  whole  force  of  the 
Halifax  squadron  consisting  of  many  smaller  ves 
sels.  No  attempt  was  made,  however,  to  effectu 
ally  blockade  New  York  city  as  to  trading  vessels 
any  more  than  had  been  done  in  a  manner  for 
several  years  previous.  Certain  vessels  with  their 
cargoes  to  or  from  certain  foreign  ports,  generally 
those  that  were  in  British  possessions  or  to  or  from 
Spanish  ports  and  the  West  Indies,  were  allowed  to 
depart  or  to  enter  under  a  British  license,  after 
inspection  and  approval  by  a  British  war  vessel,  to 
see  if  the  regulations  directed  by  the  British  orders 
in  council  were  complied  with. 

From  the  6th  of  April  to  the  22d  of  August, 
1812,  there  arrived  at  the  port  of  New  York  from 
foreign  places,  one  hundred  and  forty- two  ships, 
eighty-four  brigs,  and  forty  schooners,  preserved 
from  the  enemy's  cruisers  and  privateers  on  the 


PRIVATKER1NG.  121 


ocean,  most  of  them  having  British  licenses.  The 
embargo  on  American  vessels  prohibiting  their 
departure  continued  up  to  July  4-th,  but  non-inter 
course  with  enemies  of  the  United  States  was  in 
force  during  the  war. 

The  declaration  of  war  authorized  privateering 
against  British  vessels  and  commerce.  This  had 
been  urged  by  the  advocates  of  the  war  as  a  very 
effective  means  of  warfare.  A  s  soon  as  practicable, 
vessels  of  this  kind  were  fitted  out  at  New  York 
oity  and  other  ports. 

These  vessels  were  equipped  at  the  expense  and  risk 
of  private  individuals  and  were  commissioned  by  the 
government  to  cruise  against  the  enemy's  vessels. 

In  lawful  captures  by  privateers  the  prize  money 
arising  from  the  sale  of  the  ships  and  cargo  accrued 
only  to  the  owners,  officers  and  crews  of  the  priva 
teer,  to  be  distributed  according  to  any  written 
agreement  between  them,  and  if  there  was  no  writ 
ten  agreement  one-half  of  the  prize  money  went  to 
the  owners  and  the  other  half  to  the  officers  and 
crews  according  to  rank.  The  cargo  was  to  pay 
duty  as  in  other  cases  of  imports.  Two  per  cent  on 
the  net  amount  of  prize  money  was  paid  over  to 
the  collectors  as  a  fund  for  widows  and  orphans  of 
seamen  and  disabled  seamen.  A  bounty  of  twenty 
dollars  was  paid  by  the  United  States  government 
for  each  person  on  board  an  enemy's  ship  at  the 
commencement  of  an  engagement  which  was 
burnt,  sunk  or  destroyed  by  any  United  States 
vessel  of  equal  or  inferior  force. 

It  was  n<jt  necessary  that  every  privateer  vessel 
should  be  built  especially  for  that  service.  Many 
merchant  vessels  could  readily  be  equipped  with  a 


122  PRIVATEERS 


few  pieces  of  cannon  and  sail  forth,  being  careful 
to  avoid  the  enemy's  armed  vessels.  Several  crafts 
of  this  kind,  carrying  one  or  two  guns  and  some 
times  as  many  as  six  guns  on  the  upper  deck,  were 
soon  equipped  and  went  forth  as  privateers.  But  a 
regular  privateer  prepared  for  full  service  and  ready 
to  give  a  sharp  skirmish  to  some  of  the  British  cruis 
ers  when  assailed,  had  to  be  built  something  like  a  war 
vessel,  pierced  with  portholes  for  many  guns,  and 
with  speed  to  chase  a  prize  or  flee  from  the  enemy. 

There  seemed  to  be  no  difficulty  in  getting  the 
requisite  number  of  men  for  such  enterprises,  but 
cannon  and  other  warlike  equipments  were  not  so 
easy  to  be  had.  On  the  6th  of  July,  one  called 
Teazer,  with  two  guns  and  fifty  men,  commanded  by 
Captain  W.  B.  Dobson,  sailed  from  New  York,  and 
the  same  day  another,  called  Paul  Jones,  with  one 
hundred  and  twenty  men  and  sixteen  guns,  under 
John  Hazard,  captain,  also  started  on  a  like  cruise. 

On  the  22d  of  July,  a  pilot-boat  built  schooner 
sailed  out  of  New  York  as  a  privateer,  called  Bun- 
leer  Hill,  in  command  of  Jacob  Lewis,  "who  after 
wards  became  known  as  Commodore  Lewis,  com 
mander  of  the  gunboats  in  New  York  harbor. 

On  Saturday  morning,  July  25th,  1812,  was 
launched  from  the  shipyard  of  Messrs.  Adam  and 
Noah  Brown,  a  schooner  of  220  tons,  83  feet  keel,  24 
feet  beam  and  100  feet  on  deck.  She  was  built  for 
a  privateer  and  was  pierced  for  22  guns.  Her  keel 
was  laid  but  four  weeks  previous. 

S  me  marvelous  tales  were  told  of  the   speed  of 
some  of  these  vessels.     When  the  privateer  Ana 
conda,  Capt.  Nat.  Shaler,  started  out  of  New  York 
n  Septe  mber,  1812,  she  sailed  £from  Hart's  Island 


FROM  NEW  YORK  CITY. 


123 


to  New  London  in  eight  hours,  a  distance  of  120 
miles,  which  was  said  to  be  the  shortest  time  ever 
known  for  the  passage. 

Those  sailing  from  the  port  of  New  York,  put  to 
sea  up  the  East  River  and  through  Long  Island 
Sound  so  as  to  avoid  the  British  war  vessels  about 
the  Narrows.  There  was  no  difficulty  in  getting  to 
sea  that  way  as  the  Sound  was  not  frequented  by 
the  enemy's  vessels  and  was  not  yet  included  in  the 
British  blockade  orders. 

On  September  1st  there  were  nineteen  privateers 
belonging  to  the  port  of  New  York  and  eleven  of 
them  were  then  at  sea,  and  on  October  15th  there 
had  been  twenty-six  privateers  with  two  hundred 
and  twelve  guns  and  2,239  men  from  the  port  of 
New  York  alone.  They  were  as  follows  : 


Name  of  Vessel. 

Commanders. 

No. 
Guns 

No. 
Men. 

Teazel'                                                         

W   B   Dobson  

9 

50 

Paul  Jones        

John  Hazard  

16 

190 

Marengo                                           «  • 

I    Bedois     .       

6 

50 

Eaffle 

Beaufon  

1 

45 

Rosamond                   

J.  Campen  

19, 

189, 

Beni   Franklin 

Josiah  Ingersol 

8 

190 

Black  Joke                                      •  • 

B   Brown     

9 

60 

Rover                             

O.  Ferris  

1 

85 

Orders  in  Council     

J.  Howard  

16 

190 

Saratoga 

Andrew  Riker     .  .    .  . 

18 

140 

United  We  Stand 

Wni  .  Storey  

9 

50 

Divided  We  Fall            

Jasper  Cropsey  

9, 

50 

Gov    Tompkins  

Joseph  Skinner  

14 

148 

Retaliation 

Sam.  Newson   

6 

100 

Spitfire                                      

Z.  Miller  

9, 

54 

Gen    Armstrong  

Tim  Barnard  

18 

140 

Jack's  Favorite 

Johnson         

4 

80 

Yorktown 

T.  W.  Storey  

18 

160 

Tartar  
Holkar 

F.  King  
Jon    Rowland  

6 
16 

80 
150 

Pnaconda                                         .  . 

Nat.   Shaler  

16 

160 

Aatriot      

W.  Merrihew  

9, 

50 

Union 

O  Hicks         

1 

94 

Turn  Over                          

Southmeade  

1 

16 

Right  of    Search  

1 

50 

Bunker  Hill   

Jacob  Lewis  

4 

60 

124  LETT  RES  OF  MARQUE. 

Twenty-six  vessels  with  194  guns,  2,239  men,  and 
18  "longtoms." 

Each  of  these  privateers  had  a  "long  torn,"  ex 
cepting  the  Eagle,  Orders  in  Council,  Saratoga, 
Yorktoivn,  Holkar,  Anaconda,  Union  and  Turn 
Over.  The  term  "  long  torn  "  was  applied  to  any 
piece  of  cannon  which  was  nine  feet  in  length,  with 
out  regard  to  its  size  in  other  respects.  They  were 
generally  mounted  on  a  swivel  in  the  middle  of  the 
vessel,  but  some  had  one  on  each  side.  Most  of  the 
guns  on  privateers  were  of  the  kind  called  carroii- 
ades. 

Probably  the  largest  gun  carried  by  any  privateer 
was  on  board  the  General  Armstrong,  which  sailed 
from  New  York  in  the  summer  of  1812.  She  had 
eighteen  long  nines  and  a  12-pounder  amidship  and 
150  men.  The  large  gun  weighed  three  tons  and  a 
half,  and  was  nine  and  one-half  feet  long.  The 
long  nines  were  seven  and  one-half  feet  in  length 
and  each  weighed  2,500  pounds.  The  brig  was  of 
246  tons  burden.  The  principal  owners  were  Rens- 
selaer  Havens,  Thomas  Formar,  and  Thomas  Jen 
kins,  of  New  York. 

Many  of  these  privateers  were  not  fully  manned 
and  equipped  when  they  sailed  out  of  New  York 
through  Hell  Gate,  but  were  fully  supplied  at  the 
various  ports  and  places  along  the  Connecticut 
shore  before  they  put  out  to  sea. 

Besides  these  there  were  a  large  number  of  ves 
sels  with  letters  of  marque,  that  is,  they  were  mer 
chant  vessels  on  a  voyage  to  a  friendly  port  but 
armed  for  their  own  defence  in  case  of  attack  by  an 
enemy. 

In   September   Matthew   L.  Davis   (subsequently 


NEW  YORK  SHIP-GUILDERS.  125 

the  biographer  of  Aaron  Burr),  and  Ogdeii  Edwards, 
afterwards  a  judge  in  the  New  York  Supreme 
Court,  were  appointed  commissioners  to  take  testi 
mony  in  prize  cases  in  the  United  States  District 
Court  sitting  in  New  York  city. 

At  that  time  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Prize  Court 
(United  States  District  Court),  held  in  New  York 
city,  covered  the  entire  State.  All  captures  on  Lakes 
Champlain  and  Ontario  and  such  others  as  were 
brought  into  ports  on  the  lakes  and  rivers  in  New 
York  State  were  adjudicated  upon  by  the  Prize 
Court  (United  States  District  Court)  in  New  York 
city.  The  judge  of  the  court  during  the  war  was 
Hon.  William  P.  Van  Ness. 

The  great  ship-yard  of  the  period  was  that  of 
Adam  and  Noah  Brown.  It  was  located  on  the  East 
Kiver  and  bounded  on  the  north  by  Houston  street, 
and  on  the  west  by  Goerck  street,  and  on  the  south 
by  Stanton  street.  The  greatest  activity  prevailed 
in  this  yard  from  the  declaration  of  war  until  long 
after  the  treaty  of  peace. 

Another  large  ship-yard  on  the  East  Eiver  was 
that  of  Christian  Bergh,  the  father  of  the  late  Hen 
ry  Bergh,  the  founder  of  the  American  Society  for 
the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Animals.  Bergh  built 
the  President  for  the  government  before  the  war. 
All  his  vessels  were  noted  for  their  speed.  His 
ship-yard  was  on  the  East  Eiver  near  Gouverneur 
slip.  The  President  became  notorious  as  being  the 
one  from  which  the  first  shot  was  fired  at  the  enemy 
(the  Belviderd)  after  the  declaration  of  war.* 

Another  prominent  ship  builder  was  Henry  Eck- 

*Ante,  p.  6. 


126  NEW  YORK  SHIPBUILDERS. 

ford,  whose  yard  was  near  that  of  Bergh's.  These 
two  men  were  great  personal  friends.  Bergh  was 
sent  up  to  Lake  Ontario  in  the  summer  to  superin 
tend  the  building  of  war  vessels  on  the  lakes  for  the 
government.  The  Oneida,  which  became  the  flagship 
of  Commodore  Chauncey  as  soon  as  he  arrived  at 
Lake  Ontario,  was  built  by  Bergh.  The  first  week  in 
September,  Commodore  Chauncey  sent  forward  from 
New  York  to  Lake  Ontario  forty  ship  carpenters,  with 
Henry  Eckford  at  their  head,  to  build  more  war  ves 
sels.  He  was  soon  after  sent  to  the  Black  Eock 
ship-yard  near  Buffalo,  and  there  built  some  of  the 
vessels  which  were  placed  in  Perry's  navy  on  Lake 
Erie  in  the  spring  of  1813.  Noah  Brown  went  to 
Erie,  Pa.,  to  superintend  the  building  of  vessels  for 
the  navy  early  in  1813.  In  February,  1814,  Eckford 
built  more  vessels  on  Lake  Ontario.  These  three  ship 
builders  mentioned  were  the  principal  superintend 
ents  employed  by  the  government  at  the  Brooklyn 
navy  yard  and  those  vessels  built  on  the  lakes  border 
ing  on  New  York  during  the  war;  at  the  same  time 
they  were  turning  out  much  work  from  their  own 
ship-yards  in  New  York  city,  some  for  the  govern 
ment  by  contract  and  some  for  private  individuals. 
When  American  privateers  began  to  reach  French 
ports  the  Emperor  Napoleon  issued  orders  for  his  offi 
cers  to  admit  into  all  French  ports  all  prizes  captured 
by  Americans  on  the  same  terms  as  if  captured  by  the 
French.  This  was  a  great  advantage  to  American 
privateers.  They  could  then. take  their  prizes  into 
a  French  port  for  adjudication  on  short  voyages  and 
not  run  the  risk  of  being  captured  by  the  British  on 
their  way  to  American  ports  where  they  must  other 
wise  be  taken.  This  greatly  stimulated  the  fitting 


FIRST  NAVAL  VICTORY.  127 

out  of  privateers  in  America,  particularly  in  New 
York.  It  was  not  long  before  the  British  channel 
was  filled  with  American  privateers,  to  the  great 
consternation  of  British  merchants  and  marine  in 
surance  companies. 

Very  little  use  had  been  required  of  the  navy  in  the 
port  of  New  York.  On  Sept.  7,  1812,  a  notice  was 
published  in  some  of  the  New  York  papers  by  Cap 
tain  Chauncey,  requiring  all  officers  of  the  navy  in 
New  York  to  report  to  Isaac  Chauncey  at  Brooklyn 
Navy  Yard  on  Sept.  9,  1812. 

He  had  been  promoted  to  Commodore  and  was 
about  i,o  take  action  against  the  enemy  on  the  lakes. 
On  the  23d  of  September,  1812,  Commodore 
Chauncey  left  New  York  city  with  600  seamen  for 
lakes  Ontario  and  Champlain.  These  seamen  were 
part  of  the  crew  of  the  John  Adams,  United  States 
frigate,  which  was  taken  out  of  service  a  short  time 
previous. 

The  first  British  war  vessel  that  had  ever  struck 
her  flag  to  an  American  ship-of-war  (so  far  as  then 
known)  was  the  Guerriere,  Capt.  Dacres,  who 
surrendered  to  Capt.  Hull  and  the  United  States  war 
frigate  Constitution  on  August  19th  at  the  east  of 
Newfoundland. 

The  news  of  this  victory  was  received  with  the 
greatest  enthusiasm  about  September  1st.  The  joy 
of  this  first  victory  on  the  ocean  was  greatly  en 
hanced  because  it  was  over  the  haughty  and  boast 
ful  Capt.  Dacres. 

On  September  4,  the  brig  John  Adams,  Capt.  Fash, 
under  a  British  license,  arrived  at  New  York.  She 
was  boarded  by  the  British  war  frigate  Guerriere 
two  or  three  days  previous  to  the  latter' s  meeting 


128  HONORS  TO 


the  Constitution  (Capt.  Hull),  and  Capt.  Dacres 
wrote  the  following  challenge  on  the  margin  of  the 
certificate  of  registry  of  the  John  Adams : 

"Capt.  Dacres,  commander  of  his  Britannic  majes 
ty's  frigate  Guerriere  of  44  guns,  presents  his  com 
pliments  to  Commodore  Eogers,  of  the  United  States 
frigate  President,  and  will  be  very  happy  to  meet 
him  or  any  other  American  frigate  of  equal  force  to 
the  President,  off  Sandy  Hook,  for  the  purpose  of 
having  a  few  minutes'  tete-a-tete" 

It  was  fitting  that  the  city  of  New  York  should 
take  special  notice  of  this  victory. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  New  York  Common  Council  on 
September  8th,  it  was  resolved  :  "  That  the  freedom 
of  the  city  be  presented  to  Capt.  Hull  in  a  gold  box, 
with  an  appropriate  inscription,  and  that  his  honor, 
the  Mayor,  be  requested  to  forward  the  same,  with 
a  copy  of  this  resolution." 

This  was  the  first  time  in  the  war  of  1812  that  the 
honor  of  that  kind  was  conferred  on  any  person  for 
services  in  that  war  although  it  was  afterward  con 
ferred  upon  several  hereafter  mentioned. 

The  "  freedom  of  the  city  "  was  the  greatest  honor 
that  could  be  conferred  by  a  city  upon  an  individual. 
It  was  given  by  the  mayor  and  aldermen  of  the 
city.  Under  it  was  certified  that  the  donee,  person 
named,  "  is  admitted  and  allowed  a  freeman  and  a 
citizen  of  the  said  city,  to  have,  to  hold,  to  use  and  en 
joy  the  freedom  of  city,  together  with  all  the  bene 
fits,  privileges,  franchises  and  immunities  whatso 
ever  granted  or  belonging  to  the  said  city."4 

The  old  city  charter  allowed  this,  and  the  donee 

*  The  donee  had  first  to  subscribe  an  oath  that  he  would  maintain 
the  cha  ter  and  obey  the  laws  and  ordinances  enacted  thereunder. 


CAPT.  HULL.  129 


was  allowed  to  vote  at  charter  elections  for  city  of 
ficers.  Before  the  Eevolutioii  and  the  State  consti 
tution  of  1777  a  freeman  of  either  of  the  cities  of 
Albany  or  New  York  was  entitled  to  vote  for  any 
State  officer  the  same  as  any  freeholder. 

A  freeman  of  New  York  city  prior  to  Oct.  14th, 
1775,  and  also  those  of  Albany  made  so  prior  to  20th 
April,  1777,  were  entitled  to  vote  for  members  of 
assembly  by  the  constitution  of  1777,  and  under 
the  United  States  constitution  could  vote  for  mem 
bers  of  Congress. 

No  other  city  in  the  colony  or  State  of  New 
York  had  the  right  to  confer  such  a  privilege  and,  so 
far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  there  were  none 
in  any  of  the  other  colonies  that  had  that  right.  It 
was,  and  is  still  peculiar  to  many  of  the  old  cities 
in  Europe,  and  is  yet  exercised  by  them  as  a  mark 
of  respect  and  honor  shown  to  the  person  upon 
whom  it  is  conferred. 

The  old  charters  of  New  York  city  that  author 
ized  it  provided  that  a  fee  of  not  exceeding  five 
pounds  New  York  money  (equal  to  $12.50)  should 
be  paid  to  the  city  for  the  privileges  so  conferred. 
At  the  time  of  the  old  charters  it  was  a  very  sub 
stantial  benefit  and  was  sought  after  by  many. 
While  these  charters  granted  the  power  of  confer 
ring  it,  they  also  prohibited  all  persons  otl  ler  than 
such  free  citizens  to  use  any  art,  trade,  mystery  or 
manual  occupation  within  the  city  (saving  in  the 
time  of  fairs) ;  or  to  sell  or  expose  for  sale  any  man 
ner  of  merchandise  or  wares  whatsoever  by  retail 
when  no  fair  was  at  the  time  kept  in  the  city,  under 
a  penalty  for  each  offence.  It  was  further  provided 
that  no  person  should  be  made  free  as  aforesaid, 


130  FREEDOM  OF  THE  CITY. 

but  native-born  or  naturalized  or  denizenated  sub 
jects. 

The  law  of  April  5,  1804:,  provided  that  "all  per 
sons  who  are  qualified  by  the  charter  of  the  city  to 
vote  for  charter  officers  and  every  male  citizen  of 
this  State  or  of  any  of  the  United  States  of  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  and  upwards,  who  shall  have  re 
sided  in  the  said  city  (New  York)  for  the  space  of  six 
months  preceding  said  election,  and  shall  during  that 
time  have  rented  a  tenement  of  the  yearly  value  of 
$25  and  have  paid  any  taxes  within  the  said  city, 
and  is  not  disqualified  by  law,  shall  vote  at  such  elec 
tion  for  charter  officers  and  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  a  freeman  of  the  said  city." 

He  must  vote  in  the  ward  where  he  resides,  and  a 
mortgagor  or  mortgagee  in  possession  was  deemed 
a  freeholder. 

The  right  of  a  freeman  to  vote  for  member  of  as 
sembly  was  taken  away  by  act  of  April  9,  1.811, 
which  required  that  the  freehold  qualification  be  $50, 
or  he  must  have  for  six  months  next  preceding  the 
election,  rented  a  tenement  of  the  value  of  five 
dollars  within  the  county,  and  have  been  rated  and 
actually  paid  taxes  to  the  State,  and  must  be  an 
actual  resident  of  the  town  or  ward  where  such  vote 
was  offered.  This  did  not  affect  freemen  who  were 
qualified  by  the  constitution  of  1Y77,  or  the  right  of 
a  freeman  to  vote  at  charter  elections. 

The  right  to  make  a  freeman  who  had  the  right 
to  vote  at  charter  elections  continued  until  the  new 
charter  of  1830,  since  which  time  that  and  all  the 
other  charters  required  the  same  qualifications  to 
vote  at  charter  elections  as  was  and  is  required  to 
vote  for  member  of  assembly.  .*£ 


PUBLIC  DINNER  OFFERED.  131 

If  any  proceedings  are  now  taken  by  the  board 
of  aldermen  similar  to  those  allowed  by  the  old 
charters  to  make  a  freeman  of  the  city,  it  is  only 
nominal  and  of  no  substantial  effect. 

Still  further  desiring  to  show  the  popular  feeling 
at  the  time  a  body  of  citizens  of  New  York,  without 
regard  to  distinction  of  party,  met  on  the  10th  of 
September  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  ar 
ranging  of  giving  a  public  reception  and  dinner  to 
Capt.  Hull  when  he  arrived  in  the  city.  The  com 
mittee  of  arrangements  appointed  was  composed  of 
Messrs.  Mathew  Clarkson,  Benj.  Gr.  Minturn, 
Zachariah  Lewis,  Henry  T.  Wyckoff,  John  Hone, 
Oliver  Wolcott,  Richard  Varick,  Isaac  Sebring, 
Jacob  Radcliff,  Archibald  Gracie,  William  Bayard, 
Josiah  Ogden  Hoffman.  This  committee  met  at  the 
Tontine  Coffee  House  on  September  llth  and  selected 
three  of  their  number  to  write  a  letter  to  Capt. 
Hull  and  ascertain  when  he  could  be  in  the  city,  as 
the  citizens  anxiously  desired  an  opportunity  to  ex 
press  to  him  personally  the  sentiments  of  esteem, 
admiration  and  gratitude  with  which  their  minds 
were  penetrated.  The  letter  concluded  as  follows  : 

"Without  presuming  to  anticipate  in  any  degree 
those  demonstrations  of  public  affection  which  have 
been  so  richly  earned,  we  cannot  forbear  to  express- 
our  congratulations  on  an  event  which  has  sur 
rounded  your  character  with  glory,  and  which  we 
trust  will  be  decisive  in  inducing  the  government  of 
our  country  to  increase  in  an  adequate  manner 
the  naval  establishment  as  the  most  effectual  means 
of  promoting  national  prosperity  and  receiving 
national  respect." 

The  names  signed  to  this   letter  were  Isaac  Se- 


132  CAPT.  HULL  IN  THE  CITY. 


bring,  Jacob  Radcliff,  and  Oliver  Wolcott,  the  two 
first  were  ardent  Federalists  and  opposed  to  the 
war.  The  Federalists  of  New  York  were  in  favor  of 
a  navy  as  the  best  means  of  protecting  our  ocean 
commerce. 

Capt.  Hull  replied  from  Boston  by  letter  dated 
September  17,  saying  that  he  could  not  inform  them 
when  he  could  be  in  New  York,  as  he  had  private 
business  to  attend  to  on  his  way  there,  and  also 
that  an  unfortunate  occurrence  (the  death  of  his 
brother),  would  be  a  sufficient  excuse  for  his  declin 
ing  the  honor  intended  for  him  on  his  arrival. 

On  Capt.  Hull's  arrival  in  the  city  about  a  week 
later  the  committee  waited  on  him  personally  and 
renewed  the  request  that  he  would  favor  them  with 
his  company  at  a  public  dinner,  but  for  the  reasons 
assigned  in  his  written  answer  his  feelings  com 
pelled  him  to  decline  the  invitation. 

The  common  council  desiring  still  further  to 
honor  and  compliment  Capt.  Hull,  on  the  16th  of 
September  passed  a  resolution  that  he  be  requested 
to  sit  for  his  portrait,  that  it  be  painted  at  the 
expense  of  the  city  and  placed  in  the  picture  gallery 
in  the  City  Hall. 

When  Captain  Hull  arrived  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  flotilla  of  gunboats  in  New  York 
harbor  after  the  departure  of  Commodore  Chauncey 
for  the  lakes  on  the  23d  of  September.  In  December 
Jacob  Lewis  was  appointed  commander  (usually 
called  commodore)  in  place  of  Capt.  Hull  who  was 
transferred  to  Boston  Navy  Yard. 

There  were  many  naval  victories  and  gallant  ex 
ploits  of  our  seamen  during  the  year.  Some  of  them 
were  in  far  away  seas  and  the  information  was  not 


OTHER  NAVAL  VICTORIES.  133 


received  in  New  York  until  several  weeks  or  months 
after  the  occurrences.  It  was  the  early  victories 
that  received  the  greatest  attention. 

The  first  British  flag  that  was  struck  to  an 
American  victor  during  the  war  was  on  the  ocean 
on  the  13th  of  August.  It  was  the  British  war 
vessel,  Alert,  that  surrendered  to  Capt.  Porter  and 
the  Essex  on  that  day,  but  the  news  of  the  capture 
did  not  reach  the  United  States  until  several  weeks 
afterwards,  and  Capt.  Hull's  great  victory  over  the 
Guerriere  had  drawn  the  additional  enthusiasm  of 
the  belief  that  it  was  the  first  time  a  British  war 
vessel  had  struck  her  colors  to  an  American.  The 
Alert  was  captured  so  easily  by  stratagem  and  a 
light  skirmish  on  the  part  of  Capt.  Porter  and  the 
Essex,  and  he  and  his  crew  were  absent  so  long 
afterwards  that  other  and  greater  victories  inter 
vened  and  received  the  popular  enthusiasm  at  its 
flood. 

The  principal  victories  at  sea  during  the  year  1812 
that  we  have  a  particular  interest  in  were  the  cap 
ture  of  the  British  war  frigate  Guerriere  by  Capt. 
Hull  and  the  United  States  frigate  Constitution  on 
August  19th,  the  capture  of  the  British  war 
frigate  Frolic  by  the  Wasp  in  command  of  Capt. 
Jones  on  October  18th,  and  the  capture  of  the  British 
war  frigate  Macedonian  by  the  frigate  United  States,, 
commanded  by  Commodore  Decatur,  on  October 
25th. 

The  honors  and  attention  that  were  paid  to  the 
victors,  and  the  enthusiasm  their  presence  inspired  in 
the  citizens  of  New  York,  will  be  detailed  in  a  sub 
sequent  chapter. 


CHAPTEK  VIII. 


Evacuation1  Day  Celebration—  Military  Parade  and  Review 
-Salutes  from  the  Forts— Dinners  at  the  City  Hall  and  at 
other  places  by  Societies,  etc.— Military  Dinner  given  by 
Third  Regiment— Present,  Gov.  Tompkins,  Gen.  Armstrong, 
Gen.  Morton  and  other  notables— Toasts  and  Music— Campaign 
ended — Militia  Discharged  and  Return  Home. 

ANY  parades  and  reviews  of  the 
militia  took  place  in  the  city  dur 
ing  the  summer  and  autumn. 
The  enemy  made  no  demonstra 
tions  of  attacking  the  city  during 
the  year  and  no  attack  was  fear 
ed. 

The  militia  stationed  here  were 
in  good  spirits  and  had  a  sociable 
time    among    themselves.       The 
calamities  of  war  had  not  been  felt 
t>y  them  or  their  families. 

Nearly  all  of  those  in  service  here  were  volunteers 
or  substitutes  of  drafted  men.  In  November,  Major 
Isaac  Andrus'  detachment  of  New  Jersey  militia 
in  service  at  Fort  Kichmond,  Staten  Island,  were 
relieved  by  Lieut. -Col.  Joseph  Jackson's  detachment 
of  six  companies  of  New  Jersey  militia. 

The  detached  New  York  militia  and  volunteers 
called  into  service  by  requisition  on  27th  of  August 
were  not  liable  to  serve  more  than  ninety  days  after 
arriving  at  the  place  of  their  destination.  Their 
time  of  service  accordingly  expired  on  the  27th  of 


K VACUA TION-DA T  PARADE.  135 

November.  They  composed  Lieut. -Col.  Eobert 
Swartwout's  command  on  Staten  Island. 

The  most  notable  parade  and  review  of  the  year 
was  planned  to  take  place  on  the  anniversary  of  the 
evacuation  of  the  city  by  the  British  on  November 
25th,  1783.  It  was  celebrated  with  zeal  and  sincer 
ity  increased  by  the  incidental  interest  given  by  the 
hostile  attitude  of  the  country  to  the  occasion.  The 
city  artillery  not  on  actual  duty,  paraded  as  usual, 
and  with  the  corps  of  veterans  joined  the  regiment  of 
artillery  and  infantry  from  Albany,  Hudson,  Cats- 
kill,  Poughkeepsie  and  Newburgh  (who  had  com 
pleted  their  three  months'  tour  of  duty  at  Staten 
Island)  on  the  Battery.  At  noon  the  line  was  formed, 
and  national  salutes  were  fired  from  the  new  Fort 
Gansevoort,  the  West  and  South  Batteries,  Castle 
Williams,  Bedloe's  Island,  Fort  Richmond,  the 
veteran  corps  on  the  battery,  the  United  States 
ship  John  Adams  and  the  privateer  Teazer,  which 
was  handsomely  dressed  in  honor  of  the  day.  At 
half  past  12  o'clock  the  troops  were  reviewed  by  his 
excellency,  Gov.  Tompkins,  and  Gen.  Armstrong 
and  Gen.  Morton,  and  with  their  suites,  took  up  their 
line  of  march  through  the  principal  streets  and  were 
dismissed.  The  flag  of  the  United  States  was  dis 
played  from  the  different  public  edifices  arid  from 
the  shipping  in  the  harbor.  In  the  afternoon  public 
dinners  were  provided  by  the  corporation  at  the  City 
Hall,  by  the  Tammany  Society  at  Tammany  Hall, 
and  by  parties  at  Washington  Hall,  Mechanic's 
Hall,  and  the  City  Hotel.  The  veteran  corps  of 
artillery  had  a  dinner  at  Becanon's  restaurant  and 
drank  patriotic  toasts. 

The  dinner  at  Mechanic's  Hall  was  notable  for 


136  MILITARY  DINNER 

being  given  by  the  officers  of  the  third  regiment  of 
New  York  State  artillery,  Col.  Sitcher  s,  on  the  oc 
casion  of  their  induction  into  Fort  Gansevoort,  and 
being  honored  by  the  presence  of  Governor  Tomp- 
kins,  Gen.  Armstrong,  Gen.  Morton,  Adjt.-Gen. 
Paulding,  and  many  other  prominent  military  men. 

After  dinner  the  following  toasts  and  sentiments 
were  drank,  accompanied  by  appropriate  music  by 
the  military  band: 

"  1.  The  day  we  celebrate.—  May  this  and  each  suc 
ceeding  anniversary,  teach  Americans  to  remember 
that  it  sealed  their  birthright  as  a  nation.  This  right 
we  early  bought,  we  will  support  and  maintain." 

Music — "  Yankee  Doodle." 

"2.  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States.— The 
grand  palladium  of  our  liberty.  May  its  sacred 
principles  be  respected,  and  its  meaning  never  per 
verted  or  misconstrued  amid  the  confusion  or  broils 
of  contending  interests." 

Music — "Washington's  March." 

"  3.  The  national  government. — May  Minerva  pre 
side  at  their  councils;  Mars  direct  their  officers  in 
the  field,  and  may  their  united  efforts  be  crowned 
with  glory." 

Music— "Hail  Columbia." 

"4.  National  justice. — Words  erased  from  the 
vocabulary  of  nations.  May  America  never  sheath 
the  sword  until  the  whole  world  agree  that  they 
shall  be  reinserted." 

Music — "Mary  La  Moore." 

"5.  The  State  of  New  York.—  The  fairest  and 
most  exposed  pillar  in  the  Temple  of  Liberty.  May 
her  sons  repulse  with  indignation  the  ruffian  hand 
that  would  disfigure  it."  (Three  cheers.) 


.4T  MECHANIC'S  HALL.  137 

Music — "  Tompkins'  March." 

"  6.  The  People  of  the  United  States. — May  virtue, 
the  vital  principle  of  republics,  animate  every 
breast." 

Music—  "  Hail  Liberty." 

"  7.  The  City  of  New  York. — The  great  emporium 
of  commerce,  industry  and  wealth.  '  That  spot  in 
which  the  hope  of  freedom  should  desert  me,  that 
spot  would  I  make  my  grave.' ' 

Music — "  America,  Commerce  and  Freedom." 

"8.  The  Gallant  Capt.  Hull—Whose  valor  is 
only  equalled  by  his  modesty.  His  enemies  admire 
and  fear  him.  May  his  future  achievements  be  as 
splendid  as  his  first."  '  (Nine  cheers.) 

Music — "  There's  a  sweet  little  cherub  that  sits 
up  aloft." 

c<  9.  The  brave  associates  of  Capt.  Hull. — Onboard 
the  Constitution  they  silenced  the  roaring  of  the 
British  lion  and  clearly  proved  that  more  could  have 
been  done  if  more  had  been  required. "  (Three  cheers. ) 

Music — ' '  Sailor's  Return. " 

"  10.  The  band  of  warriors  on  the  Canada  lines.— 
Although  surrounded  with  difficulties  and  encom 
passed  by  perils,  they  imitate  the  patriotism  of 
Cono,  and  like  Antaeus  of  old,  '  rise  more  vigorous 
from  every  fall.' '  (Six  cheers.) 

Music — "  Grand  March,  Battle  of  Prague/' 

"11.  Peace,  the  Greatest  National  Blessing.— 
But  rather  an  eternal  war  than  a  dishonorable  ac 
commodation."  (Twelve  cheers.) 

Music — "Peace  and  Plenty." 

"12.  The  Twin  Sisters — Commerce  and  Agricul 
ture. — May  our  statesmen  and  politicians  keep  a 
guardian  eye  over  their  prosperity." 


138  TOASTS  AND  MUSIC 

Music— c  <  Kural  Felicity. " 

"13.  Our  Infant  Manufactures.  May  no  narrow- 
minded  policy  ever  cripple  their  growth  or  hinder 
their  extension." 

Music—"  I  Care  for  Nobody." 

"14.  Our  Brave  Brethren  in  Arms. — Who  so 
nobly  sustained  the  unequal  contest  at  Queenstown; 
equal  honor,  with  better  success,  to  the  next  who 
cross  the  line."  (Nine  cheers.) 

Music — "How  stands  the  Glass  Around." 

"15.  The  Memory  of  Washington. — His  fame 
stands  a  monument  of  greatness  which  future  ages 
must  admire  but  can  never  equal." 

Music—"  German  Hymn." 

"  16.  The  Memory  of  the  Brave  Montgomery.— 
May  those  who  march  to  Canada  most  gloriously 
avenge  his  death  and  their  country's  wrongs." 

Music—"  Exiles  of  Erin." 

:<1T.  Hamilton,  Gates,  Clinton,  and  the  other 
Heroes  of  the  Revolution.  What  their  valor  acquired 
we  will  endeavor  to  preserve." 

Music— "Portuguese  Hymn." 

"18.  The  American  Fair. — Their  smiles  are  a 
sufficient  reward  for  the  soldier's  toils." 

Music — "Haste  to  the  Wedding." 
VOLUNTEER  TOASTS. 

By  Governor  Tompkins — 

"Our  Gallant  Tars. — Their  exploits  during  the 
present  war  have,  perhaps,  never  been  equalled,  cer 
tainly  never  excelled." 

By  Gen.  Armstrong— 

"  Capt.  Jones,  his  Officers  and  Crew. — Their  con 
duct  proves  that  it  requires  British  74' s  to  conquer 
American  sloops  of  war." 


AT  THE  DINNER.  139 


By  General  Morton — 

"The  Northern  Volunteers  under  Colonel  Swart- 
wout. — Their  prompt  tender  of  their  services  is  hon 
orable  to  themselves.  Their  high  state  of  discipline 
is  honorable  to  their  country." 

By  Adjt.-Gen.  Paulding— 

"A  united  people  and  a  vigorous  and  successful 
prosecution  of  the  war." 

By  Major  M.  Boerum,  of  the  Third  Regt.  (N.  Y. 
S.  A.)- 

"  More  Prudence  and  better  Judgment  to  British 
Naval  Characters. — The  late  achievement  of  Capt. 
Jones  on  the  bosom  of  the  Atlantic  shows  that  it  is 
dangerous  to  meddle  with  the  stings  of  the  Wasp, 
even  in  a  Frolic." 

After  Gov.  Tompkins  had  retired  Col.  Sifccher 
gave  the  following  : 

"  Governor  Tompkins,  a  firm  and  distinguished 
patriot,  the  patron  of  the  Third  Regiment  of  New 
York  State  Artillery;  may  the  same  inflexible  de 
termination  in  executing  with  vigor  and  prompti 
tude  all  plans  of  the  national  government,  which 
characterizes  his  Excellency,  be  emulated  by  every 
officer  of  the  Third  Regiment." 

After  Lieut. -Col.  Sitcher  had  retired,  Major  Boe 
rum  gave  the  following : 

"  Col.  Sitcher,  the  soldier  and  gentleman;  his  offi 
cers  and  men  respect  and  admire  him  for  his  great 
attention  and  exertions  in  promoting  discipline  and 
subordination  in  the  regiment." 

In  the  evening  the  theater  and  Scudder's  Museum 
were  brilliantly  illuminated  and  the  dramatic  repre 
sentations  were  adapted  to  the  spirit  of  the  occa 
sion. 


140  MUSTERING  0  UT  MILITIA. 

On  the  26th  of  November  Lieut. -Col.  SwartwouVs 
command  at  Fort  Richmond  were  relieved  by  the 
24th  United  States  Infantry. 

A  written  testimonial  was  presented  to  Lieut.  - 
Col.  Swartwout  by  the  officers  of  his  command  as 
suring  him  of  their  esteem  and  high  estimation  of 
the  manner  in  which  he  had  performed  his  duty  as 
their  commanding  officer. 

The  Governor  issued  an  order  of  thanks  and  com 
mendation  to  Lieut. -Col.  Swartwout  and  to  the 
men  in  his  command  for  their  soldier-like  behavior 
and  bearing  during  their  term  of  service. 

Col.  Beekman  M.  Van  Buren's  regiment  con 
tinued  in  service  at  Bath  until  December  1st,  1812. 
The  latter  part  of  the  period  they  were  quartered  in 
Isaac  Riley's  book  printing  establishment. 

The  brigade  of  artillery  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Morton  having  performed  its  tour  of  three 
months'  duty  was  on  December  15th  mustered  and 
discharged.  The  regiments  commanded  by  Lieut.  - 
Col.  Curtenius  (Second  Regt.),  Sitcher  (Third  Eegt. ), 
and  Fleet  (Ninth  Regt. )  which  were  stationed  in  the 
garrisons  of  the  city,  formed  in  the  park  at  two 
o'clock,  where  they  were  joined  by  the  regiment 
commanded  by  Lieut. -Col.  Harsen,  which  had  occu 
pied  Bedloe's  and  Ellis  Islands,  The  brigade  was 
then  formed  and  reviewed  by  Gen.  Morton,  after 
which  they  took  up  the  line  of  march  through 
the  principal  streets,  and  were  then  discharged. 

In  order  to  provide  against  any  contingency  that 
might  happen  by  reason  of  the  expiration  of  the 
term  of  service  of  the  New  York  militia,  on 
November  16th  Gov.  Ogden,  of  New  Jersey,  at  the 
request  of  Gen.  Armstrong,  commanding  at  New 


CALL  FOR  NEW  JERSEY  MILITIA. 


York,  ordered  that  all  the  uniform  companies  in  the 
State  of  New  Jersey,  whether  of  cavalry,  artillery, 
light  infantry  or  riflemen,  hold  themselves  in  readi 
ness  to  march  at  twenty-four  hours'  notice  fully 
equipped  with  one  blanket,  and  four  days'  provisions 
cooked.  They  were  not  called  upon  for  duty  during 
the  year. 

The  official  reports  of  the  service  of  New  Jersey 
detached  militia  during  the  year  1812  shows  as  fol 
lows: 

Officers.        Non-Com.  ,        Men. 
From  Aug.  17th  to   Sept.  25  ......     23  52  290 

Sept.    17th    to  Nov.  30..    .'..     25  50  368 

all  infantry.  These  were  in  service  for  the  defence 
of  the  seaboard  near  Sandy  Hook  and  on  Staten 
Island  and  at  Powles'  Hook  (now  Jersey  City). 

Many  of  those  stationed  at  the  latter  place  are 
not  included  in  above  reports  as  it  was  used  more 
as  a  camp  of  instruction  and  discipline  than  as  a 
rendezvous  for  active  service.  Those  that  were  not 
called  into  the  service  of  the  general  government 
were  paid  by  the  State. 

The  number  of  men  belonging  to  the  regular 
United  States  army  in  service  for  the  defence  of  New 
York  and  vicinity  until  after  the  holidays  was  only 
about  1,500.  These  consisted  of  Col.  Burbeck's  artill 
ery  and  a  few  companies  of  Col.  Alex.  Macomb's  third 
artillery,  and  the  fifteenth  and  twenty  -fourth  United 
States  infantry.  The  thirteenth  infantry  had  been 
transferred  to  the  Niagara  frontier  in  August. 
Those  remaining  were  stationed  in  the  forts  in  New 
York  city  and  on  the  islands  in  the  harbor,  and  at 
Fort  Richmond,  Staten  Island,  and  some  at  the  High 
lands  of  Navesink.  Col.  Harsen's  eleventh  regiment 
of  New  York  militia  still  remained  ready  to  be 


142  FORCES  AT  NEW  YORK. 

called  into  service,  and  there  were  several  hundred 
of  the  New  Jersey  militia  in  camp  at  Powles'  Hook 
and  about  800  hundred  more  at  the  Heights  of 
Navesink  near  Sandy  Hook. 

On  the  12th  of  September  the  officers  of  Col.  Har- 
sen's  eleventh  regiment  of  New  York  State  artillery 
met  and  resolved  to  appropriate  a  portion  of  their 
wages  to  the  support  of  the  families  of  privates  in 
the  regiment  and  donations  were  asked  from  other 
persons  for  the  same  purpose.  The  pay  of  a  private 
in  the  ^volunteers  was  $6. 66  per  month.  See  Ante 
p.  88. 


CHAPTEK  IX. 

Honors  to  Naval  Heroes— Resolutions  of  the -Common  Council 
— The  Great  Naval  Dinner  to  Decatur,  Hull  and  Jones — Sig 
nificant  Toasts,  Songs  and  Music  —  Naval  Ball  —  Holiday 
Festivities — The  Macedonian — Dinner  to  Sailors  and  Enter 
tainment  at  the  Theater. 

T  the  close  of  the  year  1812  the 
heroes  of  the  hour  were  Commo 
dore  Decatur  and  Captains  Hull 
and  Jones  of  the  United  States 
navy.  They  were  each  honored  by 
the  common  council  by  offering 
them  the  freedom  of  the  city.* 
Commodore  Decatur  was  requested 
to  sit  for  his  portrait  to  be  painted  for  the  Gov 
ernor's  room  in  the  City  Hall.  Capt.  Hull  had  been 
voted  a  sword  by  the  common  council. 

The  other  officers  and  crews  of  the  victorious 
vessels,  the  Constitution,  the  Wasp,  and  the  United 
States,  received  the  thanks  of  the  common  council, 
and  other  honors  were  accorded  them. 

On  Monday,  November  30th,  the  common  council 
unanimously  adopted  the  following  resolution, 
which  was  presented  by  Alderman  Lawrence  : 

' '  Resolved,  That  an  elegant  sword  be  presented 
to  Capt.  Jones,  late  of  the  United  States  sloop-of- 
war  Wasp,  and  also  the  freedom  of  this  city  as  a 

*  For  an  account  of  the  mode  of  conferring  the  freedom  of  the 
city  and  the  privileges  attending  it  under  the  city  charter,  see  ante, 
u  128. 


1-t-t  TESTIMONIALS  TO 


testimony  of  the  high  opinion  this  corporation  en 
tertains  of  his  gallant  conduct  in  capturing  the 
British  sloop-of-war  Frolic,  and  that  the  thanks  of 
the  common  council  be  presented  to  his  brave  offi 
cers  and  crew." 

At  the  Park  Theater,  which  then  only  had  per 
formances  three  evenings  each  week  (Mondays, 
Wednesdays  and  Fridays),  the  management  intro 
duced  on  the  9th  of  December  transparencies  and 
other  matters  relating  to  the  capture  of  the 
Macedonian,  which  continued  at  every  performance 
until  December  28th. ' 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  common  council  on 
December  17th,  the  following  preamble  and  resolu 
tions  were  adopted  : 

"In.  testimony  of  the  high  sense  which  the  com 
mon  council  entertain  of  the  gallantry,  skill  and 
patriotism  of  the  captain,  officers  and  crew  of  the 
frigate  United  States,  in  the  capture  of  the  British 
frigate  Macedonian,  an  event  which  has  added  new 
laurels  to  the  triumph  of  American  heroism,  and 
which  is  all  important  to  the  great  commercial  in 
terests  of  the  Union  in  its  practical  illustration  of 
the  utility,  and  its  enforcement  of  the  necessity,  of  a 
navy, 

1 '  Resolved,  That  the  freedom  of  the  city  be  pre 
sented  to  Commodore  Decatur,  and  that  his  portrait 
be  procured  and  set  up  in  the  gallery  of  portraits 
belonging  to  the  city,  and  that  the  thanks  of  the 
common  council  be  presented  to  his  officers  and 
crew  who  were  concerned  in  this  brilliant  achieve 
ment,  and  as  an  additional  testimony  of  respect  to 
the  naval  officers  who  have  on  this  as  well  as  two 
other  occasions  vindicated  the  honor  of  our  country. 


NAVAL  VICTORS.  145 


"Resolved,  That  Aldermen  Fish  and  Wendover, 
and  Mr.  Lawrence,  be  a  committee  to  make  suitable 
arrangements,  in  concurrence  with  our  fellow  citi 
zens  for  a  public  dinner  to  Commodore  Decatur, 
Captains  Hull  and  Jones  and  their  officers. 

"Resolved,  That  on  the  arrival  of  the  frigate 
United  States  and  her  prize  in  this  port,  the  na 
tional  flag  be  displayed  on  the  City  Hall ;  that  Brig.- 
Gen.  Morton  be  requested  to  cause  a  national  salute 
to  be  fired  by  a  detachment  from  his  brigade ;  that 
the  vessels  in  the  harbor  hoist  their  colors,  mast 
high,  and  that  all  the  bells  in  the  city  be  rung  for 
one  hour  on  the  occasion. 

"Resolved,  That  this  board  will,  with  the  concur 
rence  of  Com.  Decatur,  give  to  the  crew  of  the 
frigate  United  States  a  dinner  on  board  the  ship, 
arid  that  Aldermen  Vanderbilt  and  Buckmaster 
and  Mr.  King  be  a  committee  to  carry  the  same  into 
effect. 

"Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  citi 
zens  to  refrain  from  illuminating  their  houses  on  this 
occasion,  the  common  council  considering  it  a  practice 
dangerous  in  occasioning  fires,  uselessly  expensive 
to  the  poor,  and  calculated  to  produce  disorder." 

The  following  notices  appeared  in  the  Evening 
Post  of  December  17th: 

"  NOTICE. — The  merchants  and  other  citizens  who 
are  desirous  to  unite  in  a  public  naval  dinner  to  Com 
modore  Decatur,  and  Captains  Hull  and  Jones,  are 
requested  to  attend  a  meeting  this  evening  at  7 
o'clock  at  the  Tontine  Coffee  House,  to  appoint  a 
committee,  and  making  other  arrangements  in  con 
cert  with  a  committee  from  the  honorable  corpora 
tion  of  this  city ." 


146  HONORS  OFFERED  TO 

"  NAVAL  BALL. — The  young  gentlemen  of  this  city 
that  are  disposed  to  unite  in  giving  a  ball  and  enter 
tainment  to  the  officers  of  the  American  frigate 
United  States,  in  honor  of  their  late  glorious  and 
splendid  achievements  in  capturing  the  British  frigate 
Macedonian,  are  desired  to  meet  at  7  o'clock  this 
evening  at  the  City  Hotel." 

On  Friday  evening,  December  18th,  a  meeting 
of  merchants  and  other  citizens  without  distinction 
of  party  convened  at  the  Tontine  Coffee  House  for 
the  purpose  of  arranging  the  mode  of  honoring  the 
naval  victors  by  the  citizens.  Col.  Richard  Yarick 
was  called  to  the  chair  and  Gurdon  S.  Mumf ord  was 
appointed  secretary.  A  committee  consisting  of 
Oliver  Wolcott,  David  Dunham,  Silvanus  Miller, 
Samuel  Jones,  Jr.,  and  William  Henderson,  were 
selected  to  draft  and  report  resolutions  suitable  to 
the  occasion.  The  following  resolutions  were  re 
ported  by  the  committee,  and  unanimously  adopted: 

"1.  Resolved,  That  the  citizens  of  New  York  ap 
prove  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  common  council 
of  the  city  on  the  17th  inst.,  and  that  they  will  cor 
dially  unite  with  the  committee  appointed  on  the 
part  of  the  corporation  in  manifestations  of  the  pub 
lic  approbation  of  the  gallantry,  skill  and  patriotism 
of  Commodore  Decatur,  and  Capts.  Hull  and  Jones, 
and  the  officers  and  crews  under  their  respective 
commands,  in  their  late  achievements  in  the  cap 
ture  of  the  British  ships-of-war,  the  Macedonian, 
the  Guerriere,  and  the  Frolic,  events  which  we 
consider  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  commer 
cial  interests  of  our  country. 

"2.  Resolved,  That  the  conduct  of  the  officers  of 


NAVAL  VICTORS.  14rY 

the  navy  of  the  United  States,  in  maintaining  order, 
discipline  and  harmony  in  their  respective  ships,  in 
the  activity  of  their  enterprises  for  protecting  com 
merce,  in  their  valor  and  skill  in  every  contest  with 
the  enemy,  and  in  their  courtesy  and  humanity 
towards  the  vanquished,  constitutes  a  brilliant  title 
to  the  admiration  of  their  country,  and  gives  pre 
sage  of  important  benefits  to  be  expected  from  their 
future  exertions  and  examples. 

* i  3.  Resolved.,  That  we  consider  an  adequate 
naval  establishment  as  essential  to  the  freedom  and 
security  of  commerce,  to  the  defence  of  our  sea 
ports  against  hostile  invasions,  and  as  the  most 
effective  and  least  expensive  means  of  rendering 
the  strength  and  resources  of  our  country  a  com 
mon  advantage  to  every  part  of  the  Union  ;  that 
under  the  influence  of  these  opinions,  we  rejoice 
that  a  bill  is  depending  in  Congress  for  building 
and  equipping  additional  ships,  and  we  engage 
cheerfully  to  contribute  our  proportions  of  the  ex 
penses,  which  may  be  necessarily  incurred  in  ren 
dering  the  American  Navy  an  efficient  and  per 
manent  establishment  of  the  government. 

"4.  Resolved,  That  copies  of  these  resolutions, 
attested  by  the  chairman  and  secretary  of  this 
meeting,  be  presented  to  Commodore  Stephen  De- 
catur,  to  Capt.  Isaac  Hull  and  to  Capt.  Jacob 
Jones  of  the  navy,  as  a  token  of  our  esteem  and 
gratitude,  a^d  as  pledges  of  our  attachment  and 
fidelity  to  these  interests,  of  which  we  consider 
them  as  distinguished  guardians,  and  that  they  will 
be  respectfully  requested  to  communicate  these  our 
sentiments  to  the  officers  and  men  under  their  com 
mand. 


148  COMMITTEES  APPOINTED. 

"  5.  Resolved,  That  a  committee  consisting  of  the 
chairman  and  secretary,  and  Oliver  Wolcott,  Esq., 
be  appointed  to  present  the  foregoing  resolutions  to 
Commodore  Decatur,  Capt.  Hull  and  Capt.  Jones. 

U6.  Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  fifteen  be  ap 
pointed  to  unite  with  the  committee  of  the  honor 
able  corporation  to  carry  into  effect  the  object  of  . 
the  first  resolution,  and  that  the  following  be  the 
persons  for  that  purpose  :  Win.  Henderson,  Fred 
erick  Jenkins,  David  Dunham,  Isaac  Sebring,  John 
Slidell,  Francis  Cooper,  Gurdon.  S.  Mumford,  Wm. 
Irving,  Wm.  Bayard,  Dominick  Lynch,  Jr.,  Stephen 
Whitney,  George  Griswold,  J.  T.  Champlin,  Henry 
G.  Wyckoff  and  George  Brinckerhoff. 

"  7.  Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting 
be  signed  by  the  chairman  and  secretary,  a  nd  publish 
ed  in  all  the  newspapers  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

"  Tickets  for  the  dinner  may  be  had  of  either  of 
the  members  of  said  committee." 

On  Christmas  night,  which  was  on  Friday,  it 
was  announced  by  advertisement  that  a  part  of  the 
entertainment  of  the  evening  at  the  Park  Theater 
would  be  devoted  to  the  commemoration  of  the  late 
gallant  capture  of  the  British  frigate  Macedonian  by 
the  United  States,  Commodore  Decatur.  "  That 
between  the  play  and  a  farce,  a  patriotic  sketch  in 
one  act,  called  i  America,  Commerce  and  Freedom; 
or  More  Laurels  for  Gallant  Tars,'  would  be  pre 
sented  for  the  fourth  time,  after  which  the  farce  of 
k  Eight  and  Wrong'  would  be  presented." 

The  only  other  entertainment  advertised  at  that 
time  was  the  Pandean  Minstrels  at  Scudder's  Mu 
seum.  This  was  also  open  on  Christmas  evening. 

This  having    places    of   entertainment   open  on 


PRESENTATION  TO  CAPT.  HULL.  149 

Christmas  day  or  evening  was  a  new  departure 
from  the  usual  custom  of  keeping  Christmas  as  a 
day  for  religious  observances.  It  caused  consider 
able  comment  and  reproof  at  the  time,  particularly 
from  Episcopal  churchmen.  The  daily  newspapers 
were  published  on  Christmas  day  the  same  as  any 
other  day,  and  it  had  been  the  custom  to  do  so  for 
many  years  prior  to  1812. 

On  Dec.  29th,  1812,  the  presentation  to  Capt. 
Hull,  the  first  to  whom  the  honor  was  accorded, 
occurred  in  the  Council  Chamber  on  second  floor, 
Room  10  of  the  City  Hall.  The  members  met  in  the 
Mayor's  office  at  eleven  o'clock  and  adjourned  to 
the  Council  Room,  a  committee  composed  of  Col. 
Nicholas  Fish,  Gen.  Jacob  Morton  and  Peter  Mesier, 
introducing  him  to  the  C3mmon  council  from  the 
presiding  officer's  platform.  Mayor  Clinton  arose 
and  addressed  him,  presenting  him  the  resolutions 
of  the  common  council  granting  him  the  freedom 
of  the  city,  superbly  executed  on  vellum  by  a  pen, 
and  a  gold  box  suitably  inscribed,  for  its  enclosure, 
and  on  it  a  representation  of  the  battle  between  the 
Constitution  and  Guerriere  painted  in  enamel.  Capt. 
Hull  responded  in  a  few  low  and  modest  words, 
after  which  the  Mayor  administered  to  him  the 
oath  required  of  freemen. 

The  gold  box  was  slightly  elliptical  in  form,  three 
inches  in  length  and  two  and  a  half  in  width,  and 
three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  depth. 

The  citizens  of  New  York  raised  money  for  the 
purchase  of  swords  to  be  presented  to  Capt.  Hull 
and  his  officers.* 

*  The  portrait  of  Com.  Decatur  painted  by  Sully,  and  that 
of  Capt.  Hull  by  J.  W.  Jarvis,  were  subsequently  placed  in  the 
Governor's  Room  in  the  City  Hall. 


150  NAVAL  DINNER. 


In  addition  to  these  honors,  Com.  Decatur,  with 
Capts.  Hull  and  Jones  were  invited  to  a  banquet  to 
be  given  by  the  city  in  honor  of  their  naval  victories. 
This  was  accepted.  The  29th  of  December  was 
fixed  upon  as  the  time,  and  the  City  Hotel  as  the 
place  of  this  naval  dinner,  as  it  was  called. 

The  following  notice  appeared  in  some  of  the 
daily  papers  for  a  few  days  before  the  dinner  : 

"  TICKET  FOR  NAVAL  DINNER 

MAY   BE   HAD   OF 

"  Nicholas  Fish,  Peter  H.  Wendover, 

Augustine  H.  Lawrence,  Wm.  Henderson, 
David  Dunham,  John  Slidell, 

Gurdon  S.  Mumford,         Wm.  Bayard, 
Stephen  Whitney,  John  T.  Champlin, 

Frederick  Jenkins,  Isaac  Sebring, 

Francis  Cooper,  Wm.  Irving, 

Dominick  Lynch,  Jr.,        George  Griswold, 
Henry  J.  Wyckoff,  Geo.  Brinckerhoff. 

"  Dinner  at  4J-  P.M. 

"N.  B. — Gentlemen  are  requested  not  to  bring 
their  servants  with  them,  as  a  sufficient  number 
will  be  provided  by  Mr.  Gibson." 

Nearly  five  hundred  gentlemen  sat  down  to  the 
tables  at  five  o'clock,  December  29th,  and  some  hun 
dreds  were  prevented  by  the  lack  of  room,  from  ob 
taining  tickets  for  this  civic  feast.  Mayor  Clinton  pre 
sided.  The  entertainment  was  given  in  grand  style. 
The  room  "  had  the  appearance  of  a  marine  palace, " 
said  an  eye  witness.  It  was  colonnaded  round  with 
the  masts  of  ships,  entwined  with  laurels,  and  bear 
ing  the  national  flags  of  all  the  world,  excepting  Great 


TOASTS  AND  MUSIC.  151 

Britain.  Every  table  had  upon  it  a  ship  in  minia 
ture,  with  the  American  flag  displayed.  In  front, 
where  Mayor  Clinton  sat  with  Decatur  at  his  right, 
and  Hull  on  his  left  (Capt.  Jones  could  not  attend), 
and  the  officers  of  the  navy  and  other  guests,  and 
which  was  raised  on  a  dais  about  three  feet,  there 
appeared  an  area  of  about  twenty  feet  by  ten  feet 
covered  with  green  sward,  and  in  the  midst  of  it 
was  a  real  lake  of  water,  in  which  floated  a  minia 
ture  United  States  war  frigate.  Back  of  this  hung 
a  mainsail  of  a  ship,  thirty-three  feet  by  sixteen 
feet,  upon  which  the  American  eagle  was  painted, 
holding  in  his  beak  a  scroll  with  these  words  : 
"Our  children  are  the  property  of  our  country" 
(which  was  a  sentiment  once  expressed  by  the 
father  of  Commodore  Decatur  at  a  dinner  given  to 
him  in  Philadelphia  some  years  before). 

At  the  upper  end  of  the  room  was  a  large  trans 
parency,  representing  Columbia,  an  armed  woman 
in  flowing  robes,  extending  the  hand  of  encourage 
ment  to  two  half  naked  boys,  who  were  hauling 
to  shore  a  ship  of  war,  on  the  top  mast  of  which  a 
scroll  was  entwined  inscribed,  ( '  Sailors'  Rights " 
and  fame  with  delight  proclaiming  to  the  world  the 
new  constellation  of  republican  valor,  "Hull,  Jones 
and  Decatur."  Many  other  ornaments  and  trans 
parencies  embellished  the  room.  Mr.  Holland  was 
the  artist. 

The  following  toasts  were  drank  after  the  cloth 
was  removed  : 

"  1.  Our  Country.  May  it  ever  be  distinguished 
by  wrisdom  in  council  and  energy  in  action." 

Music—"  Hail  Columbia." 

"  2.  The  President  of  the  United  States." 


152  NAVAL  DINNER. 


Music — "  President's  March." 

"3.  The  Governor  of the  State  of  New  York" 

Music — "  Tompkins'  March." 

"4.  Our  Navy.  With  such  an  auspicious  dawn, 
what  may  we  not  hope  will  be  its  meridian  splen 
dor  !" 

Drank  standing.     (Three  cheers.) 

Here  the  mainsail  back  of  the  president  was  sud 
denly  pushed  up  and  disclosed,  as  if  by  magic,  a 
transparent  painting  of  its  whole  extent  represent 
ing  the  three  victories :  The  Constitution  taking 
the  Guerriere,  the  latter  in  full  blaze— the  Wasp 
taking  the  Frolic — the  United  States  taking  the 
Macedonian.  The  company  were  electrified  and 
instinctively  arose  and  gave  six  cheers. 

A  glee  entitled  "  The  Heroes  of  the  Ocean"  was 
then  sung  by  several  gentlemen  in  a  superior  man 
ner  and  with  great  effect  to  the  tune  of  "Deny 
Down." 

"5.  The  Union  of  the  States.  May  it  never  be 
endangered  by  foreign  attachments,  or  by  national 
dissensions." 

Song— "Columbia's  Glory." 

"  6.  American  Gallantry — Patriotism  its  stimulus, 
glory  its  object,  a  nation's  gratitude  its  reward." 

Now  the  topsail  of  a  ship,  which  being  behind  the 
vice-president,  Col.  Yarick,  14  feet  by  12,  was  sud 
denly  furled  up,  displaying  a  second  transparency 
equally  striking  and  brilliant  with  the  first.  It  re 
presented  the  American  eagle  holding  three  medal 
lions.  On  one  was  inscribed  "Hull  and  the  Guer 
riere,"  another,  "  Decatur  and  the  Macedonian," 
and  the  third  "Jones  and  the  Frolic."  The  band 
at  the  same  moment  struck  up  "Yankee  Doodle,' 


TOASTS  AND  MUSIC.  153 

and  nine  cheers  expressed  the  feelings  of  the  com 
pany. 

Then  a  song  entitled  "  Decatur,  Hull  and  Jones 
are  here,"  written  for  the  occasion,  was  rendered 
by  the  glee  club. 

"  7.  The  memory  of  those  brave  tars  ivho  have 
nobly  fallen  in  acquiring  glory  to  the  American 
Navy.  " 

Glee— "  Hull's  Victory." 

"8.  The  Army  of  the  United  States." 

"  9.  Commerce.  The  parent  of  civilization — the 
protectress  of  the  arts — the  supporter  of  national 
greatness."  Three  cheers. 

Glee — "We  be  three  Poor  Mariners." 

"  10.  Our  Maritime  Rights.  Let  our  government 
but  furnish  the  means  and  our  gallant  tars  stand 
ready  to  maintain  them."  Three  cheers. 

Song — "Decatur's  Victory." 

"11.  The  Memory  of  Washington.  First  in  war, 
first  in  peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  country 
men."  Drank  standing. 

Round,  by  the  glee  club— 

"  Wind,  gentle  evergreen,  and  form  a  shade 
Around  the  tomb  where  Washington  is  laid." 

"12.  The  Spirit  of  Patriotism.  May  it  always 
control  the  spirit  of  party." 

Song — "  Our  Country  is  our  ship." 

"  13.  The  cause  of  liberty  throughout  the  ivorld. 
May  free  nations  respect  the  rights  of  others,  while 
they  indicate  their  own." 

Glee — "  Here's  a  Health  to  all  good  Lasses." 

The  volunteer  toasts  were  interesting  as  showing 
the  individual  opinions  of  the  prominent  persons 
present.  They  were  as  follows: 


NAVAL  DINNER. 


By  Com.  Decatur — 

"  The  citizens  of  New  Yor k.  May  their  great  liber 
ality  stimulate  us  to  act  more  proportioned  to  their 
approbation." 

By  Capt.  Hull- 

"  Com.  Chauncey  and  his  little  band.  May  their 
success  be  equal  to  their  enterprise." 

By  the  Mayor  - 

"  The  naval  heroes  ivho  have  honored  us  with  their 
company  on  this  occasion.  May  they  always  live 
in  the  affection  and  gratitude  of  their  countrymen." 

By  Mr.  Clinton,  President— 

u  Commerce  protected  by  a  Navy  and  a  navy  sup 
ported  by  Commerce."  Six  cheers. 

By  Col.  Richard  Varick,  1st  Vice-President— 

"  The  memory  of  Hamilton.  The  peerless  cham 
pion  of  real  American  rights,  the  eloquent  advocate 
of  an  efficient  navy,  the  friend  and  defender  of  an  un 
shackled  commerce."  Music — "  Hamilton's  Dirge." 

By  Mr.  Oliver  Wolcott,  2d  Vice-President— 

' '  A  navy,  an  army  and  taxation.  Indispensa 
ble  supporters  of  liberty,  property  and  public  vir 
tue." 

By  Col.  Nicholas  Fish— 

( i  The  judiciary.  May  it  support  and  be  sup 
ported  by  the  constitution  and  laws  of  our  country." 

By  Mr.  Minturn— 

"  Public  credit  supported  by  honest  measures,  not 
derived  from  forced  loans,  fines  or  forfeitures."  Six: 
cheers. 

By  Mr.  Thomas  Farmar — 

"  Our  army.     May    their  brilliant    actions,    like 


TOASTS  AND  MUSIC.  155 

those  of  their  brethren  of  the  navy,  dazzle  and  con 
found  the  enemies  of  their  country." 

By  Gen.  Armstrong — 

"An  efficient  government  and  united  people" 
Three  cheers. 

By  Major-Gen.  Ebenezer  Stevens— 

"  Commodore  John  Rodger s.  May  his  courage 
and  ability  no  longer  want  an  opportunity  to  add 
to  our  infant  navy  another  brilliant  victory. "  Three 
cheers. 

By  John  Shdell- 

"  The  navy  of  the  United  States.  Washington  its 
founder  ;  dry  dock  projects  its  destroyer  ;  Hull,  De- 
catur  and  Jones  its  restorers."  Three  cheers. 

By  Gurdon  S.  Mumford— 

' ( Sailors'  rights  and  free  commerce. "  Three 
cheers. 

By  P.  C.  Van  Wyck- 

"The  sons  of  our  country  rocked  in  the  cradle  of 
Neptune.  May  they  become  the  lords  and  heirs  of 
the  ocean." 

By  Mr.  J.  0.  Hoffman- 

"  Capt.  Jones — absent  in  person,  but  always  pres 
ent  in  noble  deeds." 

By  Mr.  Ming — 

"  The  Pilot,  The  United  States  and  Macedonian 
frigates.  May  they  be  as  safely  moored  in  the  har 
bor  of  New  York  as  their  officers  and  crews  are  in 
the  affections  of  its  citizens." 

By  Mr.  Brackett— 

"Patriotism  and  National  Honor.  Assert  more 
by  the  thunder  of  our  cannon,  and  less  by  paper 
proclamations."  Three  cheers. 


156  NAVAL  DINNER. 


By  the  Vice-President— 

"  Lieut.  Eeed,  of  the  Navy — who  bravely  aided  in 
supporting  the  American  flag,  as  well  in  the  battle 
with  the  Guerriere  as  with  the  Macedonian." 

By  Capt.  Jacob  Lewis — 

66  The  three  naval  architects — Hull,  who  with  one 
stroke  laid  the  keels  of  ten  hulls  ;  Jones,  who  raised 
the  frames  ;  Decatur,  who  gave  the  finishing  stroke  " 
(alluding  to  the  Act  of  Congress  for  building  ten 
war  vessels). 

By  Lieut. -Col.  McClure— 

"  The  navy.  It  has  maintained  the  honor  of  the 
nation  ;  may  the  nation  be  grateful  and  do  justice 
to  its  gallantry." 

By  Mr.  William  Mclrityre — 

"  The  naval  trio.  May  we  soon  be  called  upon  to 
celebrate."  Three  times  three. 

By  Mr.  Mercier — 

"  The  memory  of  Fisher  Ames.  May  our  country 
be  fruitful  of  such  men  and  faithful  to  their  glory." 

By  Lieut. -Col.  E.  Swartwout— 

"  The  Mistress  of  the  Ocean — she  has  at  length 
found  a  Master." 

After  the  President  had  retired  Mr.  G.  K.  Champ- 
lin,  of  the  privateer  Armstrong  gave — 

' '  The  Mayor  of  our  city.  The  vigilant  magistrate, 
the  advocate  of  a  navy,  the  faithful  guardian  of  our 
laws  and  the  peace  of  our  city."  Six  cheers. 

These  toasts  were  interspersed  by  songs  sung  by 
individuals. 

The  company  retired  at  eleven  o'clock  "in  good 
order,"  observed  one  of  the  newspapers  of  the  day. 

Much  complaint  was  made  about  the  incapacity 
of  the  band,  lack  of  time,  and  showing  a  neglect  of 


MUSIC  OF  THE  DAT.  157 

practice  of  the  pieces  rendered.  The  glee  club  and 
singers  were  amateur  performers  and  gave  good 
satisfaction  and  obtained  much  praise. 

The  bands  of  music  for  parades  and  outdoor  oc 
casions  in  those  days  were  composed  of  negroes  and 
mulattoes;  most  of  them  were  from  the  West  Indies, 
and  were  barbers  in  New  York  City.  The  instru 
ments,  when  not  fifes  and  drums  exclusively,  were 
reinforced  by  clarionets  and  French  horns,  and  some 
times  a  triangle.  The  bands  for  dancing  were 
fiddles,  bass  viol,  clarionets  and  French  horns. 

Many  of  the  uniformed  regiments  of  city  militia 
had  a  band  that  attended  them  on  parades,  reviews, 
etc.,  but  these  did  not  go  with  the  regiment  when 
called  into  active  service. 

Martial  music  consisted  of  a  fife  and  drum  for 
each  company  of  foot.  These  instruments  were 
prescribed  by  the  regulations,  and  the  performers 
were  often  supplied  by  those  who  were  required  to 
perform  military  duty.  Some  companies  had  a 
bass  drum  and  others  a  snare  drum,  so  that  a  regi 
mental  band  contained  both  bass  and  snare  drums, 
the  latter  predominating  in  numbers.  The  drums 
were  used  in  action  as  signals  for  muster,  advance, 
attack,  charge,  retreat,  etc.,  according  to  the  mode 
of  beating  them.  The  music  was  for  marching, 
reviews,  drills,  etc.  The  fife  major  was  the  leader 
of  the  music  in  the  regiment,  and  prescribed  the 
tunes,  etc.,  to  be  played.  He  was  considered  at 
that  time  as  having  an  enviable  position.  These 
military  bands  arrived  at  great  proficiency  during 
the  war.  Among  the  famous  military  bands  during 
the  first  year  of  the  war  were  Moffat's  Second 
Kegiment  (artillery)  and  the  Eleventh  Regiment 


158  NAVAL  BALL. 


(artillery)  bands.  There  was  no  such  thing  here  as 
a  band  composed  of  Germans  at  that  time.  The 
music  was  English,  Irish,  Scotch,  and  Swiss  airs, 
tunes  and  melodies.  There  were  no  negro  melodies 
or  songs  until  many  years  after  the  war.  There 
were  few  distinctive  American  tunes  at  that  time. 

The  bugle  (called  also  cornet),  was  used  by  rifle 
men  and  light  infantry  and  cavalry  for  making  sig 
nals  to  convey  the  orders  of  the  commanding  officers. 
They  were  of  two  kinds,  one  for  the  regulation  of 
the  common  duties  of  the  camp,  and  the  other  for 
exercises  and  movements. 

The  trumpet  was  used  principally  for  the  signals 
of  the  line,  the  bugle  for  signals  of  detached  parties. 
The  cavalry  officer  that  sounded  the  bugle  was 
called  the  cornet,  and  the  bugle  was  sometimes 
called  by  that  name.  It  was  nothing  but  a  horn  for 
sounding  several  different  notes  as  a  call  or  direction 
of  the  troops.  A  tune  could  not  be  played  by 
one.  A  key  bugle  was  unknown  here  for  many 
years  after  the  war. 

A  splendid  naval  ball  was  given  to  the  officers  of 
our  frigates  at  New  York,  two  days  afterwards,  on 
New  Year's  Eve,  at  City  Hotel.  More  than  three 
hundred  ladies  attended.  The  dancing  hall  and 
supper  rooms  were  decorated  with  many  superb 
transparencies  in  honor  of  our  naval  victories.  The 
supper  room  was  fitted  up  so  as  to  represent  the 
great  cabin  of  a  ship-of-the-line,  and  many  trans 
parencies  and  views  remained  as  they  were  at  the 
public  dinner  given  to  Commodore  Decatur  and 
Captains  Jones  and  Hull,  two  days  previous.  Among 
the  guests  were  the  Commodore  and  Mrs.  Decatur, 
Capt.  Hull,  Lieutenant  Nicholson,  and  General  and 


NAVAL  BALL.  159 


Mrs.  Armstrong.  The  expectation  of  a  fair  wind 
that  evening  prevented  the  officers  of  the  frigate 
United  States  from  being  present,  and  the  absence 
of  Capt.  Jones  and  his  officers  was  much  regretted. 

One  of  the  newspapers  of  the  day  said  that  on  no 
occasion  in  this  country  had  so  large  a  number  of 
beautiful  and  elegantly  dressed  ladies  been  seen. 
Nearly  three  hundred  ladies  sat  down  to  the  supper, 
that  took  place  about  midnight.  Owing  to  the  small- 
ness  of  the  supper  room,  no  gentlemen  (excepting 
guests  and  the  managers)  were  permitted  to  enter 
while  the  ladies  were  at  supper.  There  were  more 
than  two  hundred  gentlemen  that  remained  out  of 
the  supper  room  until  after  the  ladies  supped. 

The  cotillion  began  at  nine  o'clock — supper  at 
eleven;  after  supper  the  dancing  continued  until 
between  one  and  two  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

No  toasts  were  given  because  it  was  not  the  cus 
tom  to  have  them  at  a  supper  which  was  had  in  con 
nection  with  a  ball. 

On  New  Year's  day  the  captive  British  war  vessel, 
the  Macedonian,  and  her  conqueror  arrived  in  the 
harbor  of  New  York,  the  captor  and  captive  ves 
sel  having  made  their  way  through  Long  Island 
Sound  and  anchored  just  above  Hell  Gate  the  day 
previous,  for  the  purpose  of  arriving  in  the  city  on 
the  first  of  January.  On  the  morning  of  the  1st  a 
light  breeze  fortunately  sprung  up  and  they  were 
enabled  to  pass  Hell  Gate  down  the  East  Kiver  to 
the  city.  They  were  greeted  with  great  joy  as  a 
"  New  Year's  gift." 

The  national  flag  was  displayed  mast  high  on  all 
the  vessels  in  the  harbor,  and  on  the  City  Hall. 
A  national  salute  of  artillery  was  fired  by  a  detach- 


160  THE  MA  CED  ONI  AN. 

merit  from  Gen.  Morton's  brigade,  and  all  the  bells 
in  the  city  were  rung  for  an  hour.  The  Macedonian 
was  taken  into  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  for  repairs. 

The  Macedonian  was  the  first  captured  British 
war  vessel  that  was  brought  into  the  port  of  New 
York  by  the  captors,  hence  the  enthusiasm  display 
ed  on  that  occasion.  The  first  captured  war  vessel 
that  entered  the  port  of  New  York  was  the  Alert, 
which  arrived  on  September  16th,  bringing  from 
Halifax  a  load  of  exchanged  prisoners.  See  ante, 
p.  133. 

It  was  a  season  of  holidays  and  joy.  On  the  7th 
of  January  a  dinner  was  given  to  Capt.  Hull's  crew, 
of  the  frigate  United  States,  at  the  City  Hotel,  at 
two  o'clock  P.M.,  by  the  city.  There  were  about 
four  hundred  of  them,  neatly  dressed  in  sailor's 
habit  of  blue  jackets  and  trousers,  and  scarlet  vests 
and  black  glazed  hats.  They  marched  in  pairs  from 
their  landing  at  New  Slip,  preceded  by  their  own 
band  of  music,  and  the  committee  of  aldermen,  and 
marched  through  Pearl  Street  to  Wall  Street,  and 
up  to  Broadway  to  the  City  Hotel,  which  stood  on 
the  corner  of  Cedar  Street,  on  west  side  of  Broadway, 
011  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Boreel  Building 
The  streets  were  lined  with  crowds  of  people,  and 
waving  of  handkerchiefs  and  cheers  greeted  them  on 
the  way.  The  band  at  the  door  was  that  of  Col. 
Harsen's  llth  Regiment,  who  volunteered  their  ser 
vices,  with  Gen.  Washington's  old  trumpeter  among 
them.  The  band  continued  playing  patriotic  airs 
until  the  entire  number  were  seated,  in  the  same 
elegant  room  where  their  officers  had  dined  a  few 
days  before,  and  yet  fitted  up  in  the  same  fanciful 
and  appropriate  manner. 


DINNER   TO  SAILORS,  161'. 

After  the  procession  had   entered  the  assembly 
room  and  were  seated  at  the  table  the  boatswain  piped 
silence  and  Alderman  Vanderbilt,  who  presided,  arose 
and  addressed  them  in  behalf  of  the  city.  He  began:: 
"  Brave  American  Tars,  the  corporation  of  the  city 
of  New  York  have  ordered  you  this  entertainment. 
It  is  given  as  a  tribute  to  your  valor  displayed  in  the 
capture  of  the  British  frigate  Macedonian,"   At  this 
juncture    the     main    sails     were    unfurled  which, 
brought  to  view  the  transparencies  representing  the  • 
three  naval  victories.     At  this  sight  the  joy  of  the 
sailors  was  extravagant,  and  their  repeated  huzzas 
and    the   shrill  whistle    of    the    boatswain    made 
an  impression  never  to  be  forgotten.     When  silence 
was  restored  the  speaker  continued : 

f '  Behold  yonder  miniature  of  your  gallant  achieve 
ment.  See  yourselves  entwined  in  wreaths  of  laurels 
with  the  brave  Hull  and  Jones  and  their  valiant 
crews;  emblems  of  our  gratitude — tokens  of  honor 
which  alone  belong  to  the  brave,"  etc. 

The  address  was  in  remarkably  good  taste  for  the 
occasion. 

.  It  was  replied  to  by  the  boatswain  in  a  few 
remarks  of  thanks  for  the  honor  given  them.  Direct 
ly  after  this,  word  was  given  to-  "fall  to"  and  they 
all  proceeded  to  a  very  active  movement  of  the 
knife  and  fork. 

After  dinner,  was  over,  while  they  were  still 
seated  at  the  table,  the  boatswain  "piped  all  hands 
to  silence,"  when  the  president,  Alderman  Yander- 
bilt,  gave  as  a  toast :  ' {  American  ships  all  over  the 
ocean.  Three  cheers."  The  cheers  were  given  with 
a  will. 

After  that  the  gunner  arose  and  informed  them 


162  DINNER  TO  SAILORS. 

through  his  speaking-trumpet  that  the  commodore 
was  in  the  house  and  would  shortly  appear,  when 
nine  cheers  would  be  expected.  As  Commodore 
Decatur  entered  the  room,  accompanied  by  his  first 
lieutenant,  Mr.  Allen,  and  took  his  stand  at  the 
west  end  of  the  room  under  the  transparencies,  the 
cheers  were  given,  every  man  standing  on  tiptoe 
and  flourishing  his  glazed  hat  over  his  head  in  a  man 
ner  peculiar  to  the  sailor.  After  remaining  a  few 
minutes  the  Commodore  gave  as  a  toast:  "  Free 
trade  and  no  impressment."  Nine  cheers. 

Mr.  Allen's  toast  was  "  Captains  Jones  and  Hull 
and  their  brave  crews. "  Nine  cheers.    After  the  Com 
modore  and  Mr.    Allen  retired  the  president  gave: 
i '  Commodore  Decatur  and  Mr.  Allen."  Nine  cheers. 

A  variety  of  volunteer  toasts  were  given  by  some 
of  the  seamen  in  true  nautical  style  and  as  grog 
was  plentiful  it,  too,  had  its  effect  upon  the  toasts. 

The  boatswain  announced  in  the  dining-room  that 
the  managers  of  the  Park  Theater  had  given  them 
an  invitation  to  attend  the  evening  performance  at 
six  o'clock,  the  usual  hour.  At  the  proper  time 
many  of  them  "pushed  off"  for  the  theater  in  a 
body  in  good  order. 

Broadway,  from  the  City  Hotel  to  Park  Row,  and 
the  latter,  were  almost  literally  Mocked  up  so  that 
admittance  was  scarcely  practical.  Everybody 
seemed  desirous  to  see  how  such  a  body  of  sailors, 
coming  directly  from  a  jolly  dinner,  would  behave. 
The  front  of  the  theater  was  illuminated  and  ex 
hibited  a  large  transparency  of  the  engagement  be 
tween  the  frigates  United  States  and  Macedonian. 
As  they  entered  they  were  greeted  by  the  orchestra 
playing  "  Yankee  Doodle,"  and  three  hearty  cheers 


SAILORS  AT  THE  THEATER.  163 

from  them  testified  their  appreciation  of  it.  The 
pit  (now  called  orchestra  chairs)  had  been  set  apart 
for  them  and  about  two-thirds  of  them  attended. 
The  gunner,  with  his  speaking-trumpet,  took  his 
stand  in  the  center  of  the  middle  bench  to  command 
silence  when  necessary,  and  the  faithful  boatswain 
stood  beside  him  with  the  silver  call  (whistle)  to 
second  his  commands  ;  on  each  side  and  in  front 
the  American  flag  waved  in  proud  triumph.  The 
house  was  filled  to  overflowing  in  every  part  of  it, 
not  a  nook  or  corner  but  what  had  its  occupant. 
After  some  time,  Commodore  Decatur  entered  and 
took  his  seat  in  the  third  box  from,  the  stage,  be 
tween  Gen.  Armstrong  and  Lieut.  Allen.  On  sight 
of  him  the  crew  arose  and  gave  twelve  hearty 
cheers  with  all  their  might.  The  entertainment 
commenced  with  a  play  entitled  "  Fraternal  Dis 
cord."  They  paid  little  or  no  attention  to  it.  The 
boatswain  once  or  twice  roused  their  flagging  spirits 
by  an  inspiring  blast  of  his  whistle,  rather  inoppor 
tunely  as  respected  the  play,  but  not  so  as  regarded 
his  comrades,  who  answered  by  rising  and  giving 
three  hearty  cheers.  Towards  the  end  of  this  piece 
their  attention  was  caught  by  Jack  and  the  captain, 
and  they  applauded  several  scenes  with  judgment 
and  great  glee.  After  the  play  a  spectacular  sketch 
called  "America,  Commerce  and  Freedom"  was 
presented.  The  transparencies  shown  at  the  naval 
dinner  at  City  Hotel  were  used  with  additions.  At 
the  view  of  the  real  water  which  represented  the 
sea,  in  the  engagement  between  the  frigates  United 
States  and  Macedonian,  and  of  the  temple  of  naval 
glory  rising  out  of  the  ocean,  and  the  genius  of 
America  descending  from  heaven,  they  heartily  ap- 


164  SAILORS  AT  THE  THEATER. 

plauded.  During  this  scene,  the  letter  dance  by- 
three  children  interested  them  and  drew  forth  still 
louder  applause.  When  the  children  again  appear 
ed  bearing  in  their  hands  separate  letters  which 
being  joined,  produced  in  transparency,  Hull,  and  in 
a  second,  Jones,  and  in  a  third,  Decatur,  their  demon 
strations  of  pleasure  were  unbounded,  and  their 
huzzas  almost  endless.  The  boatswain  stunned 
the  house  with  his  call  which  he  played  as  skilfully 
as  loud. 

After  this  Mr.  McFarland,  a  popular  comedian 
of  that  day,  came  forward  in  the  character  of  a 
clown  and  sang  a  song  called  "  Yankee  Frolics,"  in 
which  the  names  of  the  vessels  and  their  victorious 
commanders  frequently  occurred.  After  much  ap 
plause  the  cries  of  encore  were  so  incessant  that  he 
returned  in  sailor's  dress  and  repeated  the  song 
amid  the  loudest  applause.  In  the  meantime  a 
naval  column  rose  from  the  stage,  surmounted  with 
the  full  length  likeness"  of  Commodore  Decatur,  and 
the  names  of  Hull,  Jones  and  Decatur  engraved  in 
capitals  on  its  base,  which  enabled  him  to  add  to 
the  effect  of  the  song.  Mr.  Darley  then  sang  "  Poll 
of  Plymouth,"  and  Mr.  McFarland  concluded  the 
whole  with  a  sailor's  hornpipe.  The  after-piece 
was  "Sprigs  of  Laurel."  The  performance  and 
everything  connected  with  it  was  appropriately 
planned  and  happily  carried  out. 

The  American  sailor  was  then  the  idol  of  the 
American  people.  In  the  House  of  Kepresentatives, 
Henry  Clay  left  the  speaker's  chair  to  make  his 
famous  speech,  on  the  8th  of  January,  1813,  in  favor 
of  the  war.  In  concluding  he  said  : 

"  We  are  told  that  England  is  a  proud  and  lofty 


SAILORS'  RIGHTS.  165 


nation  that,  disdaining  to  wait  for  danger,  meets  it 
half  way.  Haughty  as  she  is,  we  once  triumphed 
over  her,  and,  if  we  do  not  listen  to  the  counsels  of 
timidity  and  despair,  we  shall  again  prevail.  In 
such  a  cause,  with  the  aid  of  Providence,  we  must 
come  out  covered  with  success  ;  but  if  we  fail,  let 
us  fail  like  men,  lash  ourselves  to  our  gallant  tars 
and  expire  together  in  one  common  struggle  fight 
ing  for  '  Free  Trade  and  Seamen's  Rights. ' " 


CHAPTER  X. 

British  War  Vessels  off  Sandy  Hook — The  Enemy  Approaching — 
Alarm  Signals — Volunteering  in  New  York  City— Forces  Neces 
sary  for  Defence — New  Jersey  Helping  New  York — False  Alarm — 
Gunboats  to  Defend  the  Harbor — Common  Council  Makes  Ap 
propriation  for  Further  Defence— Fortifications  Erected  During 
the  Year  1812 — Defences  at  Sandy  Hook — Condition  of  Forlificn. 
tions — General  George  Izard  Placed  in  Command  at  New  York — 
Sketch  of  General  Izard — Breastworks  erected  around  the  Battery. 

HILE  the  militia  were  under  arms 
in  1812,  very  few  of  the  enemy's 
war  vessels  were  seen  about  our 
coast,  and  our  coasting  trade  had 
not  yet  been  much  disturbed — only 
a  little  from  fear  more  than  from 
threatened  danger  of  being  cap 
tured  by  the  enemy. 
Early  in  January,  1813,  it  was  reported  by  trad 
ing  vessels  that  the  blockade  of  New  York  still  con 
tinued  by  British  war  vessels,  which  appeared  off 
Sandy  Hook.  An  English  account  said  that  it  was 
Admiral  Warren's  squadron,  consisting  of  the  St. 
Domingo  and  Dragon,  of  seventy-four  guns  each, 
and  the  Statlra,  of  thirty-eight,  and  the  Sophie  and 
Colibri,  brigs  of  eighteen  guns  each.  The  United 
States  flotilla  of  gunboats  in  the  harbor,  under  com 
mand  of  Com.  Lewis,  attempted  to  proceed  to  Sandy 
Hook  to  look,  after  the  enemy,  but  were  prevented 
by  the  ice  and  considerably  damaged,  and  obliged 


THE  ENEMY  AT  SANDY  HOOK.  16T 

to  return  to  New  York,  and  again  take  their  station 
in  the  East  Eiver. 

Several  British  war  vessels  appeared  off  the  light 
house  at  Sandy  Hook  in  the  afternoon  of  January 
22d.  The  new  fort  there  was  not  yet  ready,  and  the 
only  forts  to  prevent  their  entrance  to  the  harbor 
were  those  on  Staten  Island.  At  Fort  Richmond, 
the  advance  fort,  every  man  was  at  his  post.  The 
furnaces  for  heating  balls  were  made  ready,  and 
everything  prepared  to  give  the  Admiral  a  warm 
reception,  but  he  declined  it. 

The  city  was  frequently  alarmed  by  signal  guns, 
showing  that  the  enemy  was  off  Sandy  Hook  and 
an  attempt  to  proceed  up  the  harbor  might  be  looked 
for. 

General  Armstrong,  who  had  command  of  New 
York  since  August,  was  appointed  secretary  of 
war  on  January  13th,  1813.  The  command  of  the 
city  then  devolved  on  Colonel  Henry  Burbeck,  of 
the  United  States  artillery,  he  being  the  senior 
United  States  officer  in  the  district.  He  was  a  vet 
eran  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  had  been  an 
officer  in  the  army  under  the  confederation. 

On  the  12th  February,  1813,  Colonel  Jonas  Simonds, 
of  the  sixth  infantry  United  States  army,  was  ap 
pointed  superintendent  of  the  recruiting  district  of 
New  York  city  in  place  of  Colonel  Alex.  Macomb,  Jr. , 
who  was  about  to  be  transferred  to  the  Niagara 
frontier.  Colonel  Simonds  had  been  a  captain  in  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

The  recruiting  district,  with  the  principal  rendez 
vous  at  New  York  city,  was  limited  to  that  part  of 
New  York  State  south  of  Poughkeepsie.  New  Jer 
sey  was  made  a  district  by  itself. 


168  VOLUNTEERS  FOE 

The  recruiting  district  of  which  New  York  city 
was  the  headquarters,  had  embraced  that  part  of  the 
State  from  the  sea  to  the  Highlands  of  the  Hudson 
river  and  the  eastern  half  of  New  Jersey.  Those 
that  enlisted  in  the  United  States  army  within  that 
section,  in  1812-13,  were  placed  in  the  light  artillery 
or  the  second  light  dragoons,  or  the  third  artillery 
or  the  sixth  or  fifteenth  infantry. 

Many  officers  in  Col.  Alex.  Macomb's  regiment 
(third  United  States  artillery)  in  1812-13  were  from 
New  York  city  and  vicinity.  The  same  was  true  of 
Col.  Simonds'  sixth  United  States  infantry. 

Volunteering  was  rapidly  progressing.  Nearly 
five  thousand  militia  were  fully  armed  and  equip 
ped  to  defend  New  York  city.  They  were  watching 
and  waiting  for  an  attack. 

As  soon  as  the  war  was  announced  all  those  liable 
to  military  duty,  if  they  had  not  already  joined  some 
military  company,  hastened  to  decide  and  announce 
their  choice  or  service,  as  far  as  was  permitted,  by 
obtaining  commissions  or  volunteering  in  some  par 
ticular  capacity  or  for  local  service  or  in  reserve 
corps. 

During  the  month  of  January,  1813,  the  volunteer 
corps  which  had  been  recruiting  for  defence  of  New 
York  City,  were  as  follows  : 

Lieut. -Col.  A.  Sitcher,  artillery        .         .  1,200  men. 
Lieut. -Col.  Eobert  Swartwout,  artillery    1,000     " 
Col.  Samuel  Hawkins,  artillery      .         .      800     " 
Lieut. -Col.  Jasper  Ward,  infantry      .          500     " 
Lieut. -Col.  Alex.  Denniston,  riflemen      .      500     " 

Col.  Harsen's  artillery  regiment,  the  eleventh,  was 
the  first  volunteer  regiment  for  service,  and  was 


DEFENCE  OF  THE  CUT.  169 

accepted  as  part  of  the  quota  of  militia  called  for  in 
April,  1812,  but  were  never  mustered  into  the  United 
States  army.  (See  ante,  page  170.) 

The  second  regiment  United  States  volunteers 
from  New  York  was  in  command  of  Col.  Samuel 
Hawkins,  and  was  an  artillery  regiment.  The 
earliest  commissions  from  the  United  States  to  any 
of  the  officers  in  this  regiment  were  dated  November 
6th,  1812.  Col.  Hawkins'  commission  is  dated  on 
February  15th,  1813,  and  they  were  then  mustered 
into  United  States  service  for  one  year  unless  sooner 
discharged. 

Col.  Samuel  Hawkins  was  from  Ulster  county, 
and  had  been  in  the  militia  volunteer  service  in  1812, 
in  the  defence  of  New  York  city.  Many  men  in  his 
regiment  were  also  frcm  Ulster  and  Orange  coun 
ties.  Six  companies  were  from  Ulster. 

The  third  regiment  United  States  volunteers 
from  New  York  was  in  command  of  Lieut. -Col. 
Alex.  Denniston,  and  was  of  riflemen.  The  earliest 
commissions  from  United  States  to  any  of  the  officers 
was  August  20th,  1812.  Lieut. -Col.  Denniston's  com 
mission  is  dated  February  1st,  1813,  and  the  regiment 
was  soon  after  mustered  into  United  States  service 
for  one  year  unless  sooner  discharged. 

These  volunteers  were  organized  under  the  acts 
of  Congress  of  February  6th  and  July  6th,  1812, 
and  were  entitled  to  the  same  pay,  rations,  etc., 
as  those  in  the  regular  army,  but  were  not  en 
titled  to  bounty  or  clothing  ;  but  the  non-com 
missioned  officers  and  privates  were  entitled,  when 
called  into  service,  to  receive  a  sum  of  money 
equal  to  the  cost  of  one  set  of  clothing  for  each 
person,  and  at  the  expiration  of  their  term  of 


170  VOLUNTEERS  FOE 

service,  if  they  should  deliver  their  stand  of  arms 
and  accoutrements  in  good  order  to  the  proper  offi 
cer,  they  would  be  entitled  to  ten  dollars  for  every 
stand  of  arms  so  delivered, 

By  act  of  Congress  on  December  12th,  1812,  the 
pay  of  the  regular  army  was  increased,  and  by  act  of 
February  2d,  1813,  non-commissioned  officers,  musi 
cians,  privates  of  volunteers  and  militia  called  into 
United  States  service,  were  allowed  same  monthly 
pay,  rations,  forage  and  camp  equipage  as  those  in 
the  regular  army.  This  was  prescribed  as  follows  : 

Sergeant  Major $12  00 

Second  Sergeant  Major     .         .         .  12  00 

Leader  of  Music    .         .         .         .         .  11  00 

Sergeant 11  00 

Corporal 10  00 

Musician 9  00 

Private 8  00 

Under  this  they  were  to  supply  their  own  cloth 
ing,  knapsacks,  blanket,  etc.  This  pay  table  is  the 
one  on  which  pensions  for  service  in  the  war  were 
regulated.  The  pay  of  commissioned  officers  was 
regulated  by  other  statutes.* 

Col.  Alex.  Denniston  was  from  Newburgh,  and 
had  been  in  the  militia  volunteer  service  in  1812, 
and  was  major  in  Col.  Robert  Swartwout's  com 
mand  on  Sfcaten  Island.  Some  of  the  privates  in  his 
regiment  came  with  him  from  Orange  county. 

The  citizens  of  Ulster  county,  in  November,  1812, 
appointed  committees  of  all  political  parties  in  the 

NOTE. — See  page  88  ante,  as  to  rate  of  pay  ami  rations  of  militia 
and  volunteers  prior  to  December  31st,  1812. 

*  As  to  amount  and  kind  of  clothing  allowed  each  man  per  annum 
see  post  Chapter  XI. 


DEFENCE  OF  THK  CITY.  171 

several  towns  to  obtain  subscriptions  for  promoting 
the  comfort  of  the  citizens  of  that  vicinity  belong 
ing  to  Col.  Hawkins'  regiment  of  volunteer  artiller 
ists,  raised  in  that  section  for  the  defence  of  the  city 
and  harbor  of  New  York.  Something  of  the  same 
nature  wras  also  begun  in  Orange  county. 

The  volunteer  regiments  that  were  accepted  by  the 
government  for  the  defence  of  New  York  city  and  its 
harbor  for  one  year,  were  enlisted  on  the  under 
standing  that  they  were  not  to  be  placed  in  service 
anywhere  else.  This,  of  course,  caused  many  who 
were  liable  for  general  service  in  the  militia  to  volun 
teer  for  service  in  the  defence  of  New  York  city. 
Many  came  from  the  Hudson  River  counties.  There 
were  a  number  from  Orange  and  Ulster  counties 
in  Col.  Hawkins'  regiment  of  artillery,  and  many 
were  from  Westchester,  Dutchess  and  Columbia 
in  Col.  Denniston's  regiment.  Those  in  the  other 
local  regiments  were  almost  entirely  from  the  city. 

An  independent  company  of  infantry,  called  the 
"Iron  Greys,'*  because  of  their  uniform,  was  organ 
ized  in  1812,  composed  of  about  seventy  volunteers, 
and  was  under  Capt.  Samuel  Swartwout  and  were 
afterward  attached  to  the  third  brigade. 

A  troop  of  cavalry  was  organized  in  the  city,  called 
the  New  York  Hussars.  William  Craig  was  cap 
tain.  Both  of  the  above  companies  contained  many 
men  who  have  since  become  prominent  among  us. 
They  were  then  among  the  best  and  most  respected 
families  in  the  city. 

A  veteran  corps  of  artillery  was  organized  in 
March,  1813,  under  Capt.  John  McLean.  It  com 
prised  the  veterans  in  the  counties  of  New  York, 
Westchester,  Kings  and  Richmond. 


172  FORCES  READY 


The  ship  masters  and  mariners  of  New  York  also 
formed  themselves  into  a  marine  corps  for  the  de 
fence  of  the  city. 

On  15th  March,  Gov.  Tompkins'  report  of  the  sit 
uation  stated  :  "  It  is  probable  that  3,500  troops  in 
actual  service  are  now  stationed  in  and  about  the 
harbor  of  New  York,  consisting  of  250  regular  artil 
lerists  (exclusive  of  the  recent  recruits  in  the  city 
and  its  vicinity),  of  Col.  Hawkins'  regiment  of  vol 
unteers  about  1,000  strong,  and  Col.  Sitchers',  of  the 
same  number,  and  a  consolidated  regiment  of  volun 
teers  about  1,000  more.  These  volunteers  are,  by  the 
terms  of  their  enlistment,  engaged  for  the  defence 
of  the  city  and  harbor  of  New  York  alone,  and  are 
not  liable  to  be  ordered  elsewhere. 

6 v  The  first  brigade  of  state  artillery,  a  very  well  dis 
ciplined  and  spirited  corps,  which  has  seen  three 
months'  service,  can  probably,  upon  emergency,  turn 
out  at  least  800  effective  men,  and  the  veteran  corps 
and  other  associations  at  least  200.  The  number  of 
men  in  actual  service  is  about  3,500." 

The  Governor  stated  that  12,500  men  at  least 
would  be  necessary  to  protect  New  York  city  and 
harbor. 

Gov.  Tompkins  did  not  state  the  number  of  men 
that  were  ready  to  be  called  upon  in  case  of  emer 
gency  to  defend  New  York  city.  The  entire  uniform 
ed  militia  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  which  at 
that  time  was  about  2,500  men,  had  been  ordered 
in  November,  as  we  have  already  seen,  by  the  gover 
nor  of  New  Jersey,  to  be  ready  for  immediate  service, 
subject  to  the  call  of  the  commander  of  New  York 
on  twenty-four  hours'  previous  notice.  They  could 


TO  DEFEND   THE    CITY.  173 

be  relied  upon  to  be  placed  at  Sandy  Hook  and  on 
Stateii  Island  and  at  Powles'  Hook. 

Ever  since  the  declaration  of  war  New  Jersey  had 
been  preparing  for  the  defence  of  New  York  harbor, 
knowing  that  her  own  safety  from  the  pillage  of 
her  large  towns  by  the  enemy  depended  upon  the 
commander  of  New  York.  In  August,  1812,  a  law 
was  passed  by  the  legislature  of  New  Jersey  author 
izing  the  governor  of  New  Jersey  to  draw  upon 
John  Fellows,  the  United  States  military  storekeeper 
at  New  York,  for  1,000  stand  of  arms  and  $6,000  was 
appropriated  to  equip  500  men. 

In  February,  1813,  a  law  was  passed  increasing 
the  pay  of  privates  three  dollars  per  month  in  addi 
tion  to  the  pay  then  allowed  them  by  law/"  A 
law  was  also  then  passed  appropriating  $5,000  for 
the  use  of  the  governor  of  New  Jersey  for  him  to 
take  the  proper  measures  of  precaution  for  the  de 
fence  of  the  coasts  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 

On  the  morning  of  March  20th,  the  city  was 
alarmed  by  signals  that  a  fleet  of  ships  was  ap 
proaching.  The  flotilla  of  gunboats  were  at  their 
stations,  all  the  batteries  in  the  harbor  were  manned; 
the  new  fort  at  the  Highlands,  near  Sandy  Hook, 
which  was  scarcely  finished,  had  many  heavy  guns 
mounted  ;  and  was  in  charge  of  more  than  five  hun 
dred  brave  "  Jersey  Blues,"  who  were  encamped  near 
it. 

The  fleet  of  vessels  proved  to  be  merchantmen, 
destined  mostly  for  other  ports. 

In  the  autumn  of  1812,  a  corps  of  volunteers  called 
"  Sea  Fencibles,"  were  organized  for  the  protection 

*  This  was  in  addition  to  the  pay  by  the  United  States,  the  rate 
of  which  see  ante  88. 


174:  COMMON  COUNCIL  ORDERS 

of  the  port  of  New  York.  They  were  composed  of 
sailors  and  boatmen,  and  were  enlisted  for  one  year. 
They  were  marine  militia  in  fact.  They  were  to 
man  gunboats,  and  the  like  service  in  and  about 
the  harbor.  They  were  placed  under  command  of 
Capt.  Jacob  Lewis  (usually  called  Commodore,  from 
his  position)  who  held  a  commission  in  the  navy, 
and  had  command  of  the  gunboats  in  the  harbor. 
In  the  Spring  of  1813  this  body  was  more  than  one 
thousand  strong.  It  was  intended  that  the  gun 
boats  in  the  harbor  should  be  detached  from  the 
United  States  navy  and  put  under  the  command  of 
some  other  competent  person,  and  be  under  the  direc 
tion  of  the  commander  of  the  third  military  dis 
trict. 

Early  in  March  Capt.  Lewis  received  orders  from 
the  war  department  to  reduce  the  number  of  gun 
boats  from  forty  to  fifteen  in  New  York  harbor. 

This  somewhat  awakened  the  city  committee  of 
defence  as  to  the  city  looking  after  its  defence  in 
that  manner,  and  on  the  22d  of  March  an  inquiry 
was  ordered  by  the  common  council  to  ascertain 
about  the  number  of  gunboats  in  the  harbor  not 
manned,  and  the  expense  to  man  them  for  six 
months. 

On  the  29th  of  March  the  common  council  sat  with 
closed  doors  ^iid  the  committee  of  defence  reported 
that  they  believed  that  no  further  reliance  could  be 
placed  on  the  immediate  action  of  the  general  or  state 
government  to  provide  proper  means  of  defence  and 
recommended  that  §100,000  be  borrowed  by  the  city 
and  appropriated  for  that  purpose  in  full  confidence 
that  the  state  or  general  government  would 
reimburse  the  same.  It  was  agreed  to  by  the  com- 


ADDITIONAL   GUNBOATS.  175 

mon  council.""  On  the  5th  of  April  it  was  reported 
that  about  forty  gunboats  were  in  the  harbor  and 
about  half  of  them  useless  as  not  being  manned.  It 
was  recommended  that  fifteen  gunboats  be  manned 
at  the  expense  of  the  city  for  three  months.  It  was 
agreed  to,  and  the  boats  were  manned,  equipped 
and  maintained  at  the  expense  of  the  city,  and  they 
were  placed  under  command  of  Commodore  Jacob 
Lewis  again.  The  commissioned  navy  officers  at 
tached  to  the  gunboats  retained  their  places,  and 
were  to  receive  additional  pay  from  the  city  or  state 
during  the  time  they  were  in  actual  service. 

The  fortifications  had  been  strengthened  since  the 
declaration  of  war. 

During  the  year  of  1812  they  were  being  as  rap 
idly  constructed,  both  by  the  general  government 
and  the  State  authorities,  as  the  emergency  de 
manded. 

The  new  fort  at  the  foot  of  Gansevoort  Street,  on 
the  Hudson  Eiver,  was  completed  in  November,  1812, 
by  the  general  government,  the  cornerstone  of 
which  was  laid  in  the  summer  previous.  It  was 
named  Fort  Gansevoort  in  honor  of  Gen.  Peter 
Gansevoort,  then  lately  deceased.  This  fort  was 
known  by  the  peculiar  name  of  the  "  White  Fort." 
Many  years  afterward  Gansevoort  market  occupied 
the  same  site,  and  has  recently  (1889)  been  newly 
constructed. 

It  was  of  Newark  red  sandstone,  hammered,  and 
was  whitewashed.  It  was  an  enclosed  stone  battery 


*  On  the  Sth  of  February,  1813,  the  common  council  presented  a 
memorial  to  the  State  legislature  for  an  appropriation  of  $250,000 
to  build  further  defences  for  the  protection  of  New  York  city  and 
harbor.  Little  or  no  attention  was  paid  to  it  by  the  legislature. 


NEW  FORTS  ERKCTED. 


with  magazines,  arsenal  and  extensive  barracks  and 
furnaces  for  heating  cannon  balls. 

The  battery  and  the  furnace  and  barracks  were 
the  new  structures,  the  others  had  been  built  some 
years  before.  It  had  not  yet  been  mounted  with 
cannon  in  the  Spring  of  1813. 

Fort  Gansevoort  was  an  oblong  structure,  with  a 
rounded  end  on  a  point  of  land  virtually  extending 
into  the  Hudson  River.  There  were  port  holes  for 
twenty-two  cannon  and  it  commanded  up  arid  down 
the  river. 

The  line  of  Washington  Street  terminated  in  the 
Hudson  River  at  Bank  Street.  The  structure  upon 
which  the  fort  stood  extended  about  five  hundred 
feet  into  the  river. 

South  battery,  on  Governor's  Island,  had  been 
erected  since  the  declaration  of  war.  It  would 
mount  fourteen  guns  en  barbette  and  would  com 
mand  Buttermilk  Channel  on  the  west  side,  and  the 
site  of  an  old  fort  on  Brooklyn  Heights,  which  could 
soon  be  transformed  by  the  erection  of  earthworks  to 
be  effective  011  the  east  side.  The  channel  was  then 
very  narrow  and  shallow,  and  did  not  require  much 
protection. 

On  the  rear  of  the  eminence  between  Hoboken  and 
Powles'  Hook,  northwest  of  Harsimus,  now  known 
as  Jersey  City  Heights,  the  United  States  government 
had  erected  an  arsenal  and  a  magazine  and  labora 
tory  for  manufacturing  powder  and  other  munitions 
of  war  and  the  repairing  of  guns,  etc.  There  was  also 
a  fortified  camp  with  from  500  to  800  of  the  New 
Jersey  state  militia  stationed  there  for  discipline  as 
well  as  defence. 

Powles'  Hook  was  a  peninsula  beset  with  morasses- 


OTHFAl   FORTS   REQUIRED.  177 

and  salt  meadows.  The  land  passage  to  Bergen 
was  by  a  roadway  through  a  slough,  and  from  Ber^ 
gen  the  road  was  very  good  to  Newark.  The  de 
fence  of  Powles'  Hook  would  be  necessarily  more 
important  from  Newark  bay  and  Elizabethport  than 
from  the  New  York  side. 

Fort  Richmond  and  its  batteries  on  Staten  Island 
was  reported  to  have  twenty-five  32-pounders,  fifty- 
six  24-pounders,  eight  9-pounders  and  one  10-inch 
brass  mortar.  There  were  four  garrisons,  three  of 
which  were  completely  mounted,  and  six  24-pound- 
ers  were  necessary  to  complete  the  other.  The 
guns  there  were  the  property  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  Colonel  Hawkins'  regiment  was  stationed 
there. 

There  was  a  fort  or  fortified  camp  back  of  Signal 
Hill,  on  Staten  Island,  called  Fort  Smith,  but  was  not 
yet  mounted  with  cannon  to  protect  against  a  land 
assault  in  the  rear  from  Princess'  Bay. 

Additional  fortifications  at  the  Narrows,  on  the 
east  and  west  sides,  were  now  regarded  as  immedi 
ately  desirable.  On  Hendrick's  reef  on  the  east  side, 
the  United  States  engineers  reported  that  works 
could  be  erected  500  feet  from  the  Long  Island  shore, 
which,  with  those  on  Staten  Island,  would  reduce  the 
width  of  the  Narrows  to  seven-eighths  of  a  mile. 
The  water  on  this  reef  was  three  feet  deep  at  low 
tide,  and  nine  feet  deep  at  high  tide.  The  entire 
reef  contained  thirty  acres,  two  roods  and  thirty 
perches.  The  State  commissioners  of  fortifications 
under  the  act  of  March  20th,  1807,  on  the  6th  of  No 
vember,  1812,  on  the  part  of  the  State,  deeded  the 
same  to  the  United  States  "to  have andVto hold  said 
premises  as  long  as  the  same  shall  be  used  and 


178  DEFENCES  AT  THE  NARROWS 

applied  to  the  defence  and  safety  of  the  city  and  port 
of  New  York  and  no  longer,"  then  to  revert  to  the 
State  of  New  York.  This  deed  was  recorded  on 
26th  of  December,  1812, 

On  January  23d,  1813,  the  national  government 
having  deemed  it  advisable,  on  the  recommendation 
and  plan  of  Col.  Joseph  G.  Swift,  commenced  the 
work  on  Hendrick's  reef.  It  was  then  found  that  the 
Denyse  farm  land  was  necessary  to  build  another 
fort  to  cover  Hendrick's  reef,  and  on  April  6th,  1813, 
Gen.  Armstrong  recommended  that  the  govern 
ment  pay  $19,000,  the  price  asked,  for  the  Denyse 
farm. 

Gov.  Tompkins  reported  to  the  legislature  on 
March  15th,  1813,  as  follows  : 

"  The  foundation  of  an  extensive  work  on  Hen 
drick's  reef,  opposite  the  State  fortifications  at  the 
Narrows  is  laid,  and  I  am  assured  that  it  will  pro 
gress  the  moment  the  state  of  the  weather  will  jus 
tify  the  commencement  of  the  mason  work.  .  .  . 
The  title  of  the  upland  required  for  the  protecting 
work  has  not  been  procured. 

"  A  work  has  also  been  begun  on  Sandy  Hook. 
These,  together  with  the  fortifications  on  the  west 
erly  side  of  the  Narrows,  erected  by  the  State,  and 
those  at  the  Navy  Yard  at  the  Wallabout,  are  the 
only  sites  which  are  occupied,  either  with  the  bat 
teries  or  with  works  in  a  state  of  forwardness." 

On  Telegraph  Hill,  now  known  as  the  Highlands, 
in  the  rear  of  Sandy  Hook,  a  considerable  fort  had 
been  erected.  It  was  nearly  three  miles  from  where 
Sandy  Hook  light-house  then  stood  on  the  northerly 
point. 

Telegraph  Hill  was  in  direct  communication  by 


AND  AT  SANDY  HOOK.  179 

signals  with  Signal  Hill  on  Staten  Island,  in  the  rear 
of  Fort  Richmond,  and  the  latter  was  in  direct  com 
munication  by  signals  with  the  fortifications  on  Gov 
ernor's  Island  and  the  United  States  navy  yard  in 
Brooklyn. 

The  telegraph  stood  on  the  high  grounds  in  the  rear 
of  Fort  Richmond  and  was  conspicuously  seen  from 
Saniy  Hook  and  from  the  battery  at  New  York. 
It  consisted  of  a  number  of  white  and  black  balls 
or  kegs  and  tall  poles,  and  by  hoisting  on  the  poles 
in  a  preconcerted  order,  intelligence  of  a  limited 
kind  could  be  conveyed  to  New  York  in  fifteen  min 
utes. 

A  letter  from  the  Highlands  of  Navesink,  near 
Sandy  Hook,  N.  J.,  dated  March  3 1st,  1813,  says': 

"  This  post  has  lately  been  reinforced  by  five  full 
companies  of  artillery,  and  three  of  riflemen.  The 
new  fort  is  completed,  having  thirty -two  pounders 
mounted  and  well  appointed.  The  telegraph  on  the 
Highlands  is  ready  to  work.  There  are  800  and  odd 
of  the  Jersey  Blues  encamped  on  the  heights.  Gen 
eral  Izard  has  paid  us  a  visit  and  we  may  judge 
from  the  reinforcements  and  other  supplies  arriving 
every  day,  he  is  an  intelligent,  active  and  zealous 
officer. 

16  Some  days  ago  Com.  Lewis  (now  here)  came 
down  from  the  city  with  the  flotilla  of  gunboats  and 
five  ships;  he  astonished  the  garrison  by  landing  400 
of  his  men  armed  with  boarding  pikes  and  muskets. 
They  formed  a  very  handsome  line,  were  counted 
off  into  platoons  with  officers  regularly  posted,  went 
through  some  marching,  and  a  little  exercise  in 
which  the  turn-board  is  meant  to  correspond 
with  the  charge  bayonet.  Major  Forbes,  of  the 


180  A  SOLDIERS  LETTElt. 

forty-second  United  States  infantry,  who  com 
mands  here,  turned  out  the  regiment  in  compli 
ment  to  the  brave  tars,  reviewed  the  whole  line  on 
the  prettiest  parade  ground  I  ever  saw.  Two  hun 
dred  and  eighty  workmen  came  down  to  build  bar 
racks  and  block  houses,  which  being  done  here,  they 
are  erecting  fortifications  a  few  miles  hence  (at  the 
Hook). 

' '  We  fear  nothing  ;  men  satisfied  and  officers 
emulous  in  defence  of  one  of  the  most  important 
ports  in  the  Union. 

k '  It  is  said  the  new  fort  is  to  be  named  Armstrong 
in  honor  of  the  secretary  of  war.* 

' '  The  Jersey  farmers  have  sent  out  a  present  of 
several  boat  loads  of  potatoes,  cider  and  apples.  So 
much  for  the  patriotic  feeling  of  people  who  know 
that  sandhills  afford  no  vegetables  of  themselves  to 
the  poor  soldiers." 

The  southern  cape  of  Raritan  Bay  is  Sandy  Hook, 
and  was  a  low  sandy  tract  covered  in  great  part 
with  low  trees  and  shrubs.  The  accumulation  of 
sand  fast  extended  the  cape  so  that  it  is  not  now  as 
it  was  in  1812.  The  lighthouse  was  eighty-five  feet 
high,  which  then  stood  on  the  northern  extremity. 
The  cape  has  since  accumulated  so  fast  that  that 
lighthouse  and  also  another  one,  since  erected  to  the 
north  of  it,  have  become  useless,  being  left  too  far  in 
land  to  the  south  to  be  of  any  avail. 

There  were  two  or  three  cannon  at  the  lighthouse 
on  Sandy  Hook  for  the  purpose  of  firing  signals  of 
the  approach  of  the  enemy  and  like  service,  and  to 
keep  off  small  marauding  parties,  there  being  no 

*  It  was  subsequently  called  Fort  Gates. 


SKETCH  OF  GEN.  IZARD.  181 

danger  from  large  vessels  because  of  the  shoals 
around  there. 

Gen.  George  Izard  *  was  assigned  by  the  President 
to  take  command  of  New  York  city  and  vicinity,  on 
the  20th  March.  It  was  then  designated  as  the 
third  military  district,  the  headquarters  of  which 
was  in  New  York  city.  Gen.  Izard,  upon  his  arrival 
here,  took  up  his  headquarters  at  the  fort  off  the 
Battery  parade  (now  Castle  Garden). 

It  was  proposed  by  General  Izard  that  the  Battery 

*  GEORGE  IZARD  was  born  in  Charleston,  S.  C.,  in  September, 
1777.  He  was  second  son  of  Ralph  Izard  (who  married  Miss 
Alice  De  Lancey,  of  Morrisania,  in  1767,  and  was  a  member  of 
Continental  Congress  from  1781  to  1783,  and  U.  S.  Senator  from 
South  Carolina  from  1789  to  1795).  George  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Paris  in  1782  and  was  under  a  private  tutor  there  until 
his  parents  returned  to  the  United  States  in  1783.  Henry,  the 
elder  brother  of  George,  graduated  from  Columbia  College  in 
1789  and  entered  the  United  States  navy.  George  entered  the 
freshman  class  in  Columbia  College  in  1789.  One  of  his  class 
mates  at  that  time  was  Edward  W.  Laight,  of  New  York,  who 
afterwards  became  colonel  of  eighty-fifth  New  York  infantry 
militia,  and  a  prominent  citizen  of  New  York.  George  Izard 
was  qualified  to  enter  the  sophomore  class  of  1790,  but  as  he  was 
intended  for  a  military  life  his  education  continued  under 
private  tuition.  In  1792  his  father  obtained  from  President 
Washington  a  commission  for  him  as  lieutenant  in  a  regi 
ment  of  artillery  and  engineers  with  permission  to  go  to  Europe 
for  the  purpose  of  further  education.  He  was  sent  to  a  military 
school  near  London  for  a  time  and  was  then  transferred  to  a 
military  school  in  Germany,  where  he  remained  two  years.  On 
Mr.  Monroe's  appointment  as  United  States  minister'to  France, 
by  his  influence  young  Izard  entered  the  corps  of  French  engi 
neers,  and  was  lieutenant  of  engineers  in  the  French  army  in 
1796  and  1797  and  having  completed  his  studies  returned  to  the 
United  States  and  joined  his  regiment.  In  1798  was  United 
States  engineer  of  fortification  for  Charleston  Harbor,  S.  C. , 
and  built  the  works  there  ;  was  captain  in  July,  1799,  and  in 
December,  1799,  aide-de-camp  to  Maj.-Gen.  Alex.  Hamilton, 
when  the  latter  was  United  States  inspector  general  ;  resigned  in 
1803;  married  a  lady  from  Virginia  and  resided  near  Philadelphia. 
In  March,  1812,  was  made  colonel  of  United  States  artillery  and 
brigadier-general  in  March,  1813,  major-general  in  January,  1814. 
In  active  service  on  northern  frontier  of  New  York  State  during 
campaign  of  1814;  disbanded  June,  1815;  was  governor  of 
Arkansas  Territory  in  1825  until  his  death  in  1828. 


182  BATTERY  PARADE. 

parade  be  fortified.  As  it  belonged  to  the  city,  the 
common  council  granted  permission  to  erect  tem 
porary  breastworks  around  the  parade  near  the 
water  line.  These  works  were  commenced  in  April 
and  were  completed  in  May. 

The  battery  parade  or  park  was  then  a  narrow 
strip  of  crescent-shaped  greensward  less  than  300 
feet  wide  between  the  buildings  on  State  Street  and 
the  water's  edge.  There  was  no  sea  wall,  loose 
stones  and  pebbles  were  the  boundary  that  gradu 
ally  sloped  into  the  water  from  a  bluff  two  or  three 
feet  high.  At  the  edge  of  this  bluff  was  an  ordi 
nary  wooden  fence.  The  parade  at  that  time  con 
tained  ten  acres,  three  roods  and  thirty-two  rods, 
and  the  water  front  from  Whitehall  Street  to  Mar- 
ketfield  Street  (now  Battery  Place),  was  sixteen 
hundred  and  twenty-five  feet.*  There  was  then  a 
dock  at  foot  of  Whitehall  Street.  At  Marketfield 
Street  the  water  came  up  to  near  the  middle  of  the 
block  between  Washington  and  Greenwich  Streets. 

A  public  garden  was  kept  near  the  middle  of  the 
southeastern  part  of  Battery  Park.  There  was  out 
door  music  in  the  summer  evenings,  and  ice  cream 
and  other  delicacies  and  refreshments  were  provid 
ed  and  served  in  the  proper  season. 

The  private  houses  that  then  occupied  the  locality 
near  the  parade  were  few  and  of  excellent  quality, 
for  that  time.  The  government  house  grounds 
occupied  the  block  bounded  by  State,  Bridge  and 
Whitehall  Streets  and  Bowling  Green  (see  ante, 
p.  67).  The  large  Kennedy  mansion  at  No.  1  Broad 
way,  also  fronted  on  Marketfield  Street  and  the 

*  Since  the  enlargement,  the  Battery  Park  now  contains  24 
acres  and  has  a  water  front  of  2,120  feet. 


RESIDENCES  ON  STATE  STREET.  183 

parade,  as  well  as  on  lower  JBroadway,  which  was 
then  not  so  aristocratic  a  place  of  residence  as  it 
afterwards  became. 

In  April,  1813,  there  were  only  twelve  buildings 
in  State  Street,  all  fronting  the  Battery  Parade. 
They  were  occupied  as  dwellings  as  follows  : 

No.  1.  W.  Neilson  &  Sons,  merchants. 
No.  2.  John  B.  Coles,  merchant. 
No.  3.  Henry  Evering,  not  ascertained. 
No.  4.  Jonathan  Ogden,  merchant. 
No.  5.  John  Hunter,  not  ascertained. 
No.  6.  William  Bayard,  merchant. 
No.  7.  Moses  Rogers,  merchant. 
No.  8.  Mrs.  Watson,  widow. 
N0   9    i  Mrs.  King,  boarding  house. 

(  Carey  Ludlow,  merchant. 
No.  10.  Dr.  N.  Romayn. 

No.  11.  i  A*  J*  McLaughlin> 
( Ann  Nestell. 

No.  12.  Samuel  Cooper,  State  inspector,  etc. 

Some  of  the  buildings  are  still  standing,  but  the 
numbers  above  No.  7  have  been  changed.  The 
houses  above  that  number  were  on  large  lots  which 
have  since  been  closely  built  upon.  No.  12,  then  the 
most  northerly  on  State  Street,  was  between  Pearl 
and  Bridge  Streets. 

On  the  west  side  of  Broadway  the  following  per 
sons  resided  : 

No.  1.  Nathaniel  Prime. 
No.  3.  John  Watts. 


184  11K8IDENCKS  ON  BROADWAY. 

No   5    (  Mrs.  Kinsey 

(  Mrs.  Van  Nest. 
No.  7.  John  Stevens. 
No.  9.  Elizabeth  V.  Courteir. 
No.  11.  Eve  White. 
•vr  _    1 Q    (  Mrs.  Bradish. 

"  I  M.  Whulen. 

No.  19.  James  T.  Leonard. 
No.  21.  S.  Eoulett. 
No.  23.  G.  S.  Mumford. 


On  the  "east  side  of  Broadway,  opposite  Bowling 
Green,  and  further  up  were  : 

No.  2.  Isaac  Sebring. 
No.  4.  J.  Suydam. 
No.  6.  H.  J.  Wycoff. 
No.  10.  K.  Gilchrist. 
No.  12.  Mrs.  J.  Bruce. 

Mrs' 


No.  14. 

(  Mrs.  Taylor. 

No.  32.  J.  S.  Schermerhorn. 

No.  36.  Peter  J.  Munroe. 

No.  56.  Cornelius  Eay. 

No.  64.  Cornelius  Schermerhorn. 

No.  66.  Herman  LeEoy. 

No.  68.  Peter  Schermerhorn. 

No.  74.  A.  L.  Bleecker. 

The  State  sold  the  government  house,  grounds 
and  the  buildings  standing  on  it  (see  ante,  67)  to  the 
city  in  January,  1813,  for  $50,000.  The  government 
house  was  then  used  as  the  custom  house  and  for 


GO  VERNMENT  HO  USE  PROPERTY.  1 85 

court  purposes,  marshal's  office,  etc.,  until  the  close 
of  the  war  (ante,  32).* 

The  purchasers  at  the  auction  sale  of  property  on 
May  25th,  1815,  were  as  follows  : 

Lot  No.  1  Bowling  Green,  John  Hone  for $10,250 

"      2        "              "       James  T.  Leonard  for ....  9,500 

"      3         "              "       James  By ers  for 9,750 

"      4        "              "       Elbert  Anderson  for ....  11,000 

"       5         "              "       Abijali  Weston  for 10,000 

"      6        "              "       Dominick  Lynch  for 11,150 

"       7        "              "       Noah  Brown  for 16,000 

Lot,  next  on  State  Street,  No.  30,  A.  Weston  for 8,150 

Lot  No.  29        "              "       Thos.  R.  Mercein  for 8,250 

"      28        "              "       Robert  Lenox  for 8,250 

"      27                        "       Joseph  Blackwell  for 8,300 

"      26  corner  State  and  Bridge  Streets,  John  Swart- 

wout  for 20,000 

Lot  next  east  in  Bridge  Street,  No.  1,  A.  Weston  for.. . .  5,000 

Lot  No.  2,  Ferdinand  Suydam  for 5,000 

"       3,  Edmund  Smith  for 5,200 

4,  John  Sharpe  for 5,700 

5,  "  "  6,100 

The  old  government  building  brought  $5,050  ;  the 
arsenal  and  other  buildings  $1,533. 

In  1854  Whitehall  Street  was  widened  20  feet  on 
the  westerly  side,  which  was  taken  off  this  block  at 
the  upper  end. 

*The  property  on  which  the  government  house  stood  was  sold 
in  May,  1815;  and  the  buildings  were  takon  down  the  next  year; 
soon  after  the  fine  row  of  brick  buildings,  still  standing  on  the 
south  side  of  Bowling  Green,  were  erected.  This  gave  the  neigh 
borhood  respectability,  and  soon  after  some  of  the  most  desirable 
residences  were  those  fronting  Battery  Park,  and  it  continued 
to  hold  that  standing  as  a  choice  place  of  residence  for  nearly 
half  a  century.  Stephen  Whitney  occupied  No.  7  Bowling 
Green,  from  1826  until  he  died  in  1861.  He  was  regarded  as  the 
wealthiest  man  in  New  York  city,  excepting  the  Astor  family,  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  As  early  as  1842  lie  was  rated  next  to 
John  Jacob  Astor  in  wealth.  The  latter  was  then  estimated  to 
have  $14,000,000  and  the  former  $3,000,000. 


186  BREASTWORKS  AT  THE  BATTERY. 

The  works  erected  around  the  parade  in  1813 
were  similar  in  form  to  those  that  were  there  dur 
ing  the  Kevolution,  being  a  parapet  or  breastwork 
around  the  outer  edge  on  the  water  line  with  has. 
tions,  etc. ,  to  prevent  flanking  by  water  attack. 

The  fortifications  were  strongest  at  the  south  end, 
opposite  Governor's  Island,  and  there  a  tall  flagstaff 
was  placed,  around  which  was  erected  an  octagonal 
building  of  wood.  This  building  had  benches  placed 
in  it  and  became  a  place  for  musical  entertain 
ments  in  the  Summer  time  (see  ante,  p.  53). 

The  plans  for  the  additional  defences  of  New  York 
city  and  harbor  in  1812  and  '13  were  under  the  direc 
tion  and  superintendence  of  Colonel  Joseph  G.  Swift, 
who  was  then  chief  of  the  United  States  corps  of 
engineers  located  there. 

The  State  board  of  fortifications  at  this  time  con 
sisted  of  Mayor  De  Witt  Clinton,  Alderman  Smith, 
Major  Fairlie,  General  Morton  and  Colonel  Peter 
Curtenius  (see  ante,  p.  64),  but  they  had  nothing  to 
do  with  the  erection  of  these  works. 


CHAPTEE  XI. 

Re-election  of  Mr.  Madison— Prospects  of  the  War  at  Home 
and  Abroad — Preparing-  for  the  Campaign  of  1813— United 
States  Army  Regulations— Equipments,  Uniform,  etc.— Vol 
unteers  and  Militia,  Tactics,  etc.,  etc. 

PON  Mr.  Madison's  entering  his  second 
presidential  term  in  1813  it  was  with 
a  promise  of  a  more  vigorous  prose 
cution  of  the  war,  and  a  general  feel 
ing  that  he  would  be  more  heartily 
supported  in  it  by  the  people.*  Con 
gress  had  since  the  beginning  of  the 
year  made  many  provisions  of  law  for  a  more 
vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  as  well  as  for  pro 
tection  against  invasion. 

For  several  months  at  the  close  of  the  year  1812 
it  was  seen  and  felt  in  America  that  there  was  no 

*  It  is  worthy  of  remark  and  to  call  particular  attention  to  the 
fact,  that  no  popular  election  took  place  in  New  York  State 
after  the  presidential  nominations  were  made  in  the  year  1812, 
and  none  took  place  here  until  after  the  re-election  of  Mr.  Madi 
son  by  the  electors  in  1813.  At  that  time  the  presidential  elec 
tors  were  appointed  in  New  York  State  by  the  legislature  which 
was  elected  at  the  annual  election  held  on  the  last  Tuesday  of 
April  in  each  year.  Mr.  Madison  was  nominated  for  president 
in  May  and  Mr.  DeWitt  Clinton  was  put  in  nomination  in  Sep 
tember,  1812. 

The  presidential  campaign  of  1812  started  out  with  a  war 
party  and  a  peace  party,  but  the  latter,  after  the  declaration  of 
war,  made  their  issue  on  an  honorable  termination  of  the  war  and 
a  vigorous  prosecution  of  it,  but  not  for  conquest  of  British  ter 
ritory  or  acquirement  of  new  territory.  The  electors  of  New 
York  State  voted  for  Mr.  Clinton. 

The  author  has  ready  for  the  press  a  work  entitled  "  The 
Presidential  Campaign  for  DeWitt  Clinton  in  1812,"  which  will 
soon  be  published. 


188  PROSPECTS  OF  THE  WAR 

hope  of  peace,  or  of  the  British  yielding  to  the 
ultra  demands  of  the  dominant  political  party,  and 
the  hope  of  a  final  victory  over  the  British  arms 
without  vigorous  efforts  was  steadily  waning.  The 
campaign  of  Napoleon  against  Eussia  in  1812  (see, 
ante  82),  had  proved  to  be  disastrous  to  him. 

In  the  coming  campaign  of  1813,  Napoleon  found 
Russia,  Austria,  England,  Prussia,  Sweden,  Spain 
and  the  greater  part  of  Germany  against  him.  His 
army  did  not  exceed  300,000  effective  men,  being 
less  than  one-fourth  his  army  in  1812  (see  ante,  82), 
to  contend  against  these  allied  powers. 

The  enemy  could  now  safely  divert  more  of  her 
war  vessels  and  men  from  Europe  in  an  active 
campaign  against  the  United  States.  England  had 
1000  vessels  equipped  for  war,  manned  by  146,000 
seamen  and  marines.  It  was  these  that  the  in 
habitants  on  the  coasts  of  the  United  States  had 
the  most  reason  to  fear. 

In  preparing  for  the  campaign  of  1813  on  the 
ocean  the  British  admiralty  regulations  in  Novem 
ber,  1812,  required  that  the  crew^s  of  forty-four  gun 
frigates  should  have  forty  additional  men  and  the 
thirty- two  gun  frigates  thirty  additional  men  and 
the  war  brigs  the  same  proportionate  increase  of 
men.  * 

In  the  annual  address  before  the  New  York  His 
torical  Society,  delivered  by  Hon.  Gouverneur  Morris, 
the  first  vice-president  of  that  society  in  the  Su 
preme  Court  Room  in  the  second  story  in  the  City 
Hall,  on  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  December,  1812, 
among  other  things  he  said  : 

*  For  the  number  of  men  previously  on  each  British  war  ves 
sel  see  ante,  p.  81. 


IN  EUROPE  AND  AMERICA.  189 

' '  This,  gentlemen,  is  neither  the  place  nor  the  oc 
casion  to  inquire  into  the  policy  much  less  the  jus 
tice  of  these  measures  by  which  we  are  distressed. 
Bowing  with  deference  to  the  national  government, 
I  am  willing  to  suppose  that  in  so  far  as  regards 
the  United  States  the  war  may  have  been  begun, 
and  is  now  carried  on  justly,  wisely,  happily,  but 
for  us  most  unhappily.     Every  member  of  this  so 
ciety  is  undoubtedly  disposed  by  every  proper  exer 
tion,    and  every  possible  sacrifice,    to  support  the 
honor  and  independence  of  our  country.     But  he 
must  be  devoid  of  discernment  who  does  not  per 
ceive  that  war  with  the  greatest  naval  power  is  no 
happy  condition  for  a  commercial  people.     Whether 
America  will  eventually  rejoice  in  trophies  gained,- 
territory  acquired  and  privileges  won  from  an  en 
emy  subdued,  or  whether  she   shall  weep  for  de 
feats  sustained,  dominion  lost   and   rights   surren 
dered,  must  depend,  under  God,  on  the  manner  in 
which  this  war  shall  be  conducted,  and  the  wisdom 
and  integrity  of  the  negotiations  by  which  it  shall 
be  concluded. 

"But,  whatever  may  be  the  .feelings  of  our  sister 
States,  whether  they  as  events  may  indicate,  shall 
clothe  themselves  in  scarlet,  or  in  sackcloth,  our  house 
will,  in  all  probability,  be  a  house  of  mourning." 

The  address  was  listened  to  with  the  most  pro 
found  respect  and  attention  by  many  of  the  most 
eminent  and  respected  citizens  of  New  York.  ~x~ 

*  Mr.  Morris  was  a  Federalist  and  opposed  to  the  war  and  to 
Mr.  Madison's  administration,  and  he  continued  so  until  the 
end. 

The  officers  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  1812  to  1815, 
were  as  follows  : — 

Hon.  Egbert  Benson,  president  ;  Gouverneur  Morris,  first 
vice-president ;  De  Witt  Clinton,  second  vice-president ;  Rev. 


190  MILITARY  DISTRICTS. 

More  efficient  measures  were  being  taken  on  the 
part  of  the  general  government  from  time  to  time, 
for  invasion  as  well  as  defence.  The  army  was 
authorized  to  he  largely  increased  and  was  reorgan 
ized.  The  summer  campaign,  for  1813  promised  to 
he  more  eventful  and  encouraging  than  those  of  the 
previous  summer,  by  which  more  had  been  lost  by 
defeats  than  gained  by  our  arms. 

Pursuant  to  general  orders  by  the  War  Depart 
ment  dated  March  19th,  1813,  the  frontiers  of  the 
United  States  were  divided  into  nine  military  dis 
tricts,  the  third  of  which  comprised  New  York  State 
from  the  sea  to  the  Highlands  on  the  Hudson  and 
the  State  of  New  Jersey.  To  each  of  the  districts 
were  assigned  a  commanding  officer  of  the  army  of 
the  United  States  and  a  competent  staff. 

By  general  orders  dated  April  10,  1813,  that  part 
of  New  Jersey  which  furnished  the  first  division  of 
the  militia  of  that  State  (West  Jersey)  was  there 
after  made  part  of  the  fourth  military  district  of  the 
United  States.  East  Jersey  remained  a  part  of  the 
third  military  district,  which  also  included  New 
York  City.  General  -George  Izard  was  in  command 
of  the  third  military  district,  having  been  assigned 
to  it  on  March  20th. 

Samuel  Miller,  corves  ponding-  secretary  to  1814,  Dr.  David 
Hosack  ;  John  Pintard,  recording-  secretary  from  1814  ;  'Charles 
Wilkes,  treasurer  ;  Dr.  John  W.  Francis,  librarian. 

Standing- committee — William  Johnson,  Dr.  Samuel  L.  Mitch 
ell,  Dr.  David  Hosack,  Rev.  John  M.  Mason,  Gov.  Daniel  D. 
Tompkins,  John  McKesson,  Anthony  Bleecker,  De  Witt  Clinton, 
Hon.  Gillian  C.  Wrplanck,  Peter  A.  Jay,  from  1814. 

During'  the  period  above  mentioned  the  reg-iilar  quarters  of 
the  Historical  Society  was  in  the  Government  House  opposite 
Bowling-  Green  (ante,  p.  32). 


ARMY  ORGANIZATION.  191 

Under  the  new  organization  of  the  army  two  reg 
iments  formed  a  brigade  under  a  brigadier-general, 
who  bad  one  aide-de-camp  and  one  brigade  major. 
Two  brigades  formed  a  division  commanded  by  a 
major-general,  who  had  two  aide-de-camps,  one  ad 
jutant-general  with  two  assistants,  one  inspector- 
general,  with  two  assistants,  one  quartermaster- 
general  and  one  deputy  and  four  assistants,  one 
topographical  engineer  and  one  assistant. 

Each   company  and   regiment   for  service  were 

made  up  as  follows: 

Each 
Privates.     Company.     Regiment. 

First  Artillery 56  81  1631 

Second  and  3d  Artillery.   72  95  1918 

Light   Artillery TO  95  963 

First  Dragoons 64  86  703 

Second  Dragoons 64  86  1038 

Each  infantry  regiment.   90  108  1094 

Riflemen 68  84  853 

The  difference  above  the  total  number  of  pri 
vates  being  made  up  by  officers,  non-commissioned 
officers,  musicians,  artificers,  etc. 

A  division  of  field  artillery  consisted  of  six  pieces 
of  ordnance,  to  wit  :  four  camion  of  the  same  cal 
iber  and  two  howitzers,  or  of  six  cannon  of  not  more 
than  two  calibers. 

To  each  pair  of  three-pounders  there  were  allotted 
one  ammunition  wagon  or  caisson,  and  to  each  six- 
pounder  the  like  allottment.  To  each  howitzer  two 
ammunition  wagons  or  caissons.  To  each  gun  of 
larger  caliber  than  a  six- pounder,  two  or  at  most 
three  ammunition  wagons  or  caissons. 

To  each  division   of  artillery  were  also  allotted 


192  MILITARY  EQUIPMENTS. 

three  wagons  provided  with  assorted  and  spare  ar 
ticles  of  equipment,  ammunition,  harness,  in 
trenching  and  artificers'  tools,  etc.  Each  half  divi 
sion  had  only  one  wagon  and  articles  as  above. 

To  every  division  of  flying  artillery  and  every  two 
divisions  of  foot  artillery  were  allotted  one  traveling 
forge. 

The  proportion  of  overplus  small  arms  for  the  in 
fantry  was  one-fourth  the  number  of  effective 
troops  in  the  field. 

The  proportion  of  musket  cartridges  for  the  infan 
try  consisted  of  thirty  rounds  per  man,  accom 
panying  the  troops  in  ammunition  wagons.  Addi 
tional  quantities  were  provided  in  reserve  whenever 
the  nature  of  the  service  required  it. 

Wagons  were  provided  with  mining  and  labora 
tory  tools  and  utensils  and  intrenching  and  artificers' 
tools  whenever  the  nature  of  the  service  rendered  it 
necessary. 

A. corps  of  artificers  consisted  of  a  superintendent 
and  four  assistants,  two  master  masons,  two  mas 
ter  carpenters,  two  master  blacksmiths,  two  master 
boat  builders,  sixteen  overseers  (gunsmiths); 
twelve  saddle  and  harness  makers  and  twenty-four 
laborers.  They  were  attached  to  the  quartermas 
ter's  department. 

Each  company  or  detachment  of  one  hundred  re 
cruits  were  allowed  one  four-horse  wagon  for  the 
conveyance  of  officers'  baggage  and  all  other  bag 
gage  of  the  company.  Every  six  men  were  allowed 
one  common  tent,  one  iron  camp-kettle  or  pot  (of 
four  gallons),  and  two  tin  pans,  and  to  each  com 
pany  four  axes  and  four  spades. 

The  orders  further  provided: 


MILITIA  DETACHMENTS.  193 

"  All  militia  detachments  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States  must  be  made  under  the  requisition 
of  some  officer  of  the  United  States  (regularly 
authorized  to  make  such  requisition)  on  the  execu 
tive  authority  of  the  state  or  territory  from  which 
the  detachment  shall  be  drawn.  In  the  requisition 
shall  be  expressed  the  number  of  privates,  non 
commissioned  and  commissioned  officers  required, 
which  shall  be  in  the  same  proportions  to  each  other 
as  obtained  in  the  regular  army.  The  former 
method  of  requiring  regiments  or  brigades  will  be 
discontinued.  As  soon  as  one  hundred  privates, 
eight  non  commissioned  and  five  commissioned  of 
ficers  shall  have  been  organized  as  a  company  under 
any  requisition  as  aforesaid  they  shall  be  inspected 
and  received  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
and  upon  the  rolls,  and  reports  made  in  conse 
quence  thereof,  they  will  be  entitled  to  pay.  .  .  ' 

The  clothing  allowed  to  every  non-commissioned 
officer,  musician,  and  private  of  artillery  and  in 
fantry  annually  in  the  United  States  army  were : 
one  hat,  coat,  vest,  two  pair  of  woolen  and  two  pair 
of  linen  overalls,  one  coarse  linen  frock  and  trous 
ers  for  fatigue  clothing,  four  pair  shoes,  four  shirts, 
two  pair  of  socks,  two  pair  short  stockings,  one 
blanket,  one  leather  stock  and  clasp,  and  one  pair  of 
half  gaiters.  The  secretary  of  war  was  authorized 
to  furnish  to  the  paymaster  of  each  district  a  sur 
plus  of  clothing  which  he  might  furnish  to  the  sol 
diers  when  necessary,  at  the  contract  prices,  and  de 
duct  the  same  out  of  their  pay. 

The  price  of  annual  outfit   of  clothing  in  April., 
1813,  was  as  follows  : 


194  CLOTHING  AND  RATIONS. 


Infantry  :— Privates,  $34.07 };  musicians,  $34.65J; 
sergeants  $37.47}. 

Field  artillery  : — Privates,  $34.41  ;  musicians, 
$36.44  ;  sergeants  $37.85. 

Light  artillery  about  the  same. 

Dragoons  (cavalry): — Privates,  $53.22  ;  musicians, 
S55.09J  ;  sergeants  $57.16  ;  riflemen — privates,  $37.- 
9S£  ;  musicians,  $39.85;  sergeants,  $41.77. 

When  called  into  service  the  non-commissioned 
officers,  the  musicians  and  privates  in  the  volunteer 
and  militia  corps  were  entitled  to  the  same  monthly 
pay,  rations  and  forage  and  the  same  camp  equi 
page  as  if  in  the  United  States  army.  In  heu  of  cloth 
ing  each  man  received  in  money  a  sum  equal  to  the 
cost  of  a  year's  clothing  furnished  to  those  in  the 
regular  army  at  the  contract  price. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war  everything  con 
nected  with  the  -regular  army  was  more  as  it  had 
been  in  the  revolutionary  war  than  it  is  now  easy  to 
conceive  of,  when  we  consider  the  other  changes 
made  in  the  manners,  habits  and  occupations  of  the 
people  and  the  period  that  had  elapsed. 

This  is  not  so  strange  when  we  reflect  that  all  the 
leading  officers  and  those  who  were  in  authority 
were  veterans  of  the  revolutionary  war  and  of  that 
period,  and  still  clung  to  their  own  ideas.  The  side 
.arms  were  still  of  the  old  revolutionary  pattern. 

There  was  literally  no  change  in  the  small  arms 
from  those  used  in  the  revolutionary  war.  The 
muskets  were  flint-locks  or  fire-locks  as  they  were 
called;  they  were  heavy,  but  some  of  the  newer 
mako  were  a  little  less  weighty  but  were  still  heavy 

*  For  the  pay,  rations  and  allowances  to  the  militia  and  volun- 
ioers  and  regular  army,  see  ante  pp.  169,  170. 


UNIFORM  OF  OFFICERS.  195 


and  bungling.  Eifles  (that  is  bored  guns)  were  very 
little  in  use  and  were  of  heavier  barrel  than  the 
muskets. 

Almost  the  only  progress  made  since  the  revolu 
tion  was  in  the  artillery  service  and  in  the  size  and 
manner  of  using  field  pieces,  and  the  heavier  ord 
nance  for  all  branches  of  that  service,  as  well  as 
being  more  numerous  in  proportion  to  the  men  un 
der  arms.  This  progress  was  undoubtedly  owing 
mostly  to  the  French  mode  of  attack  and  defence. 

The  uniform  of  the  officers  in  the  United  States 
army  had  changed  since  the  revolutionary  war. 
The  tendency  had  been  toward  show  and  extrava 
gance,  and  elaborate  embroidery  in  gold  and  gold 
lace  trimmings,  buttons,  etc.,  and  gaudy  feathers. 
The  black  chapeau  or  cocked  hat  was  still  in  use  in 
form,  but  the  extent  and  colors  of  the  trimming 
upon  it  had  generally  followed  that  in  use  in  the 
French  army.  Gold  lace  trimming  and  the  epau 
lettes  and  tall  feathers  w?  re  also  of  French  fashion 
and  were  costly  and  showy. 

The  new  army  regulations  changed  some  of  this 
in  many  particulars,  prescribing  more  neat  and 
economical  modes  of  form  and  make  of  officers' 
uniforms. 

We  will  notice  some  of  the  most  striking  and  ma 
terial  chaiigcG. 

No  lace  was  allowed  to  be  worn  by  any  grade 
excepting  in  epaulettes  and  sword  knots.  The  epau 
lettes  of  the  general  staff  were  of  gold,  and  on  the 
strap  of  each  was  two  silver  stars  for  a  major-gen 
eral,  and  one  silver  star  for  a  brigadier-general. 

The  epaulettes  were  made  of  gold  or  silver  lace 
with  rich  fringe  and  bullion.  Field  officers  and  all 


196  UNIFORM  OF  OFFICERS. 

grades  above  wore  one  on  each  shoulder.  Captains 
wore  only  one,  on  the  light  shoulder;  all  subalterns 
wore  one  on  the  left  shoulder  only. 

Straight  swords  were  worn  by  all  officers  of  the 
general  staff  excepting  the  officers  of  the  adjutant, 
ir  jpector  and  quartermaster-general's  department, 
who  wore  sabres.  All  were  yellow,  mounted  with 
black  or  yellow  grips. 

The  black  chapeau  was  retained  for  general  officers, 
but  feathers  were  not  allowed  to  be  worn  by  the 
general  officers  or  their  staff.  The  fan  of  the  cha 
peau  was  to  be  not  less  than  six  and  a  half  and  not 
more  than  nine  inches  high  in  the  rear,  nor  less 
than  fifteen  nor  more  than  seventeen  and  a  half 
inches  from  point  to  point.  It  was  bound  around 
the  edge  with  black  binding,  half  inch  wide,  and  but 
ton  and  loop  black.  The  cockade  of  black,  four  and 
a  half  inches  diameter,  with  a  gold  eagle  in  the  cen 
ter. 

General  officers  and  all  others  of  the  general  staff 
not  otherwise  directed  were  to  wear  cocked  hats 
without  feathers. 

The  general  staff  wore  black  leather  waist  belts, 
no  sashes  were  allowed. 

Their  coats  were  blue  and  were  single-breasted. 
They  were  permitted  to  embroider  the  ccat  blind 
buttonholes  with  gold.  There  were  ten  in  front, 
each  five  inches  long  at  the  top  of  the  breast  and 
three  inchos  long  at  the  bottom  on  each  side,  in 
"herring  bone'  form,  with  gilt  bullet  button  at 
each  end.  There  was  one  five  inches  long  on  each 
side  of  the  standing  collar  of  the  coat  and  a  button 
on  each  side. 

There  were  four  blind  buttonholes  in  like  form, 


ARTILLERY   UNIFORM.  197 


proceeding  from  four  buttons,  running  lengthwise 
on  each  skirt  and  a  gilt  star  on  the  center  of  the 
bottom  about  two  inches  from  the  edge.  The  skirts 
were  faced  with  blue,  the  bottom  of  each  were  not 
allowed  to  be  more  than  seven  inches  nor  less  than 
three  and  a  half  inches  wide,  reaching  to  the  bend 
of  the  knee.  The  cuifs  were  four  inches  wide, 
with  four  buttons  in  a  row  lengthwise  on  each 
sleeve. 

Vests  were  white  or  buff,  single-breasted,  without 
pocket  flaps. 

Pantaloons  or  breeches  were  white  or  buff  ;  blue 
was  allowed  in  winter  and  nankeen  in  the  summer. 
When  buff  breeches  were  worn  they  were  usually 
buckskin  and  had  four  buttons  on  the  knees  and 
gilt  knee  buckles.  All  buttons  wrere  of  the  bullet 
form.  High  military  boots  and  gilt  spurs  were 
required,  arid  a  black  stock  of  leather  or  silk  for 
the  neck. 

The  trimming  of  the  coats  of  the  artillery  and 
infantry,  field  and  staff  officers,  was  different  from 
that  of  the  general  staff.  The  buttonholes  were 
not  in  "  herring  bone  "  in  front.  The  vests  and  pan 
taloons  were  of  blue.  The  button  and  loop  of  the 
chapeau  were  yellow  ;  a  w^hite  feather  eight  inches 
high ;  the  adjutant  wore  one  white  or  red.  * 

The  artillery,  field  and  staff  officers  wore  belts  of 
white  leather  around  the  waist  when  on  a  tour  of 
duty. 

*  The  feathers  then  in  vogue  were  vulture  feathers  fastened 
on  a  stem,  and  wh^n  completed  were  some  six  or  eight  inches 
in  diameter  at  the  top,  and  sixteen  to  eighteen  inches  tall, 
slighlly  waving*  at  the  top,  and  were  of  white  and  all  colors, 
some  with  two  or  three  colors  on  each,  and  others  of  only  one 
color. 


198  UNIFORM  OF  FIELD 

The  infantry,  field  and  staff  officers'  dress  was 
same  as  the  artillery.  The  epaulettes,  buttons, 
spurs,  buckles  and  trimmings  were  silver  or  silver- 
plated  .  Their  swords  were  of  the  sabre  form. 

The  corps  of  United  States  engineers  and  that  of 
sappers  and  miners,  wore  a  blue  coat  with  buff  fac 
ings,  red  linings,  buff  underclothes,  and  the  epaul 
ettes  of  their  respective  ranks.  Such  of  them  as 
were  in  military  rank  must  wear  the  uniform  of 
their  rank  and  of  the  corps  to  which  they  belong  in 
the  line. 

All  officers  were  required  to  wear  coats  the 
length  of  those  worn  by  the  field  officers.  All  the 
rank  and  file  were  required  to  wear  coatees,  the 
buttonholes  of  which  were  trimmed  with  tape 
only. 

The  infantry  had  cockade  and  brass  eagle  on 
their  caps.  The  artillery  had  a  plume.  The  light 
artillery  and  riflemen  had  a  hat  and  feather.  The 
dragoons  had  a  cap  and  feather  or  plume.  This 
was  for  privates.  The  plume  was  a  single  or  slim 
feather  and  cost  a  private  ten  cents,  while  a  feather 
was  much  more  elaborate  and  cost  a  private  thirty- 
five  cents  at  that  time.  The  cockade  and  brass 
eagle  was  retained.  Leather  caps  were  to  be  worn 
instead  of  worsted,  and  cotton  or  worsted  pompons 
instead  of  feathers. 

The  uniform  of  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  had  changed  many  times  since  the  first 
organization  of  the  army.  That  of  the  infantry  and 
artillery  in  use  when  the  war  commenced  was  blue, 
with  red  facings,  and  red  collars  and  cuffs.  The  red 
collars  and  cuffs  were  not  allowed  by  the  new  regu 
lations  of  1813. 


OFF1CKRS  AND   PRIVATES.  199 

The  cavalry  coat  was  green  with  black  facings, 
white  vest,  breeches,  top  boots,  and  helmet  of  leather, 
crowned  with  black  horse-hair  trailing,  and  having 
a  brass  front  representing  a  mounted  dragoon  in 
the  act  of  charging.  Officers,  helmets  bearing  a 
green  plume. 

Musicians  wore  red  coats,  blue  facings,  blue 
waistcoats  and  breeches,  an^  yellow  silk  epaulettes. 

These  rules  and  regulations  as  to  uniform  and 
dress  of  officers  and  privates  applied  to  volunteers 
the  same  as  to  those  in  the  regular  United  States 
army,  but  they  did  not  apply  to  the  militia,  even 
when  called  into  active  service  and  mustered  under 
the  officers  of  the  United  States  army. 

When  the  militia  were  called  into  active  service 
and  under  pay  of  the  general  government  they  were 
subject  to  the  rules  and  articles  of  war  like  the  reg 
ular  army.  But  a  court  martial  for  the  trial  of  an 
accused  militiaman  was  composed  of  militia  officers 
only. 

The  militiaman  when  called  into  active  service  by 
the  general  government  must  provide  his  own 
clothing  and  personal  equipments  (see  ante,  p.  96). 
The  clothing  was  to  be  uniform  for  privates  in  each 
regiment,  battalion,  or  independent  company,  and 
was  left  to  be  regulated  by  the  laws  of  the  state  in 
which  the  militiaman  resided.  The  uniformed  com 
panies  were  always  called  upon  when  necessary, 
and  those  not  uniformed  were  mustered  with  them 
in  cases  of  greater  emergency. 

According  to  the  laws  of  New  York  State  the 
militia  uniform  was  for — 

General  officers:  dark  blue  coats  with  buff  facings, 
linings,  collars  and  cuffs,  and  buff  vest  and  pants. 


-200  UNIFORM  OF  MILITIA 


Regimental  and  staff  officers  :  ,dark  blue  coats 
with  white  linings,  scarlet  facings,  collars  and  cuffs, 
and  white  vest  and  pants. 

Non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of  the 
grenadier  and  light  infantry  :  dark  blue  coats  with 
white  lining,  scarlet  facings,  collars  and  cuffs,  and 
white  vest  and  pants. 

The  buttons  were  either  white  or  yellow  metal  in 
the  discretion  of  the  brigadier-general  of  each  brigade. 

The  cocked  hat  with  the  cockade  of  the  army  of 
the  United  States  was  worn  by  all  the  officers  of  the 
militia. 

The  uniforms  of  the  cavalry  and  artillery  were 
left  in  the  discretion  of  the  commander-in- chief, 
but  were  not  to  be  changed  only  when  a  new  com 
pany  or  regiment  was  organized,  or  when  it  was 
convenient  to  change  the  uniforms  already  in  use. 

The  militia  cavalry  uniform  worn  when  the  war 
commenced  was  for  : — 

Regimental  field  and  staff  and  troop  officers,  a 
cap  or  helmet  and  a  short  scarlet  coat  faced  with 
black  silk  velvet,  the  collars,  cuffs  and  wings  on  the 
shoulders  also  of  black  silk  velvet.  There  were 
eight  buttons  on  the  lappels,  two  on  each  side  of 
the  collar,  three  on  each  sleeve,  three  on  each  skirt; 
the  buttonholes  and  the  edges  of  the  coat  (the  bot 
tom  excepted)  were  trimmed  with  gold  lace  or  yel 
low  silk  binding,  the  buttons  and  epaulettes  of  the 
like  color,  with  buff  vest,  buckskin  breeches  and 
long  black- topped  boots.  Plain  saddle,  bearskin 
holsters. 

The  chapeau  and  cocked  hat,  with  tall,  erect 
feather  in  front  of  only  one  color,  was  in  universal 


OF  NEW  YORK  STATE.  201 


use  among  the  field  officers  of  the  state  militia.* 
When  the  style  or  form  of  trimming  was  not  pre 
scribed  by  law  it  was  usually  the  most  showy  and 
brilliant  kind.  In  fact  all  the  dress  of  the  militia  of 
that  day  was  chiefly  for  dress  parade  and  not  with 
any  idea  of  actual  service.  There  was  scarcely  a 
regiment  in  which  every  company  dressed  alike.  It 
was  usually  composed  of  several  "independent  com 
panies  "  or  had  some  of  them  attached  to  it,  in  which 
each  company  had  a  different  uniform. 

Some  of  the  feathers  worn  by  an  officer  would 
cost  from  four  to  seven  dollars  each.  The  militia 
cavalry  and  grenadiers  were  particularly  showy  in 
their  gaudy  uniform,  bright  colors,  big  caps  and  tall 
feathers  of  one  color  tipped  with  another,  even  for  the 
privates,  while  the  officers  were  resplendent  in  gold 
lace  epaulettes,  red  sash,  chapeau  or  cocked  hat  and 

*  The  distinction  between  a  chapeau  and  a  chapeau  de  bras 
is,  that  the  latter  was  originally  a  broad  brimmed  hat,  looped 
up  at  each  side,  made  of  pliable  material  so  as  to  be  folded  or 
carried  under  the  arm.  The  chapeau  is  a  variation  of  it,  and  is 
made  more  formal  and  ornamental,  and  often  of  stiff  material 
that  would  injure  it,  if  folded  up  or  crushed.  In  the  17th  and 
18th  centuries,  cardinals  and  other  church  dignitaries  wore  the 
chapeau  de  bras,  and  some  wore  red  and  others  black,  and  soon 
it  was  worn  by  the  military  officers.  The  use  of  the  chapeau 
de  bras  was  discontinued  b}^  the  regimental  officers  in  the  armies 
of  Europe  in  1812,  but  with  slight  variations  was  continued  in 
use  by  field  officers  in  the  armies  of  Europe  and  America  and 
called  chapeau.  The  cocked  hat  was  made  by  looping  up  the 
broau  brim  at  the  back,  and  then  at  each  sidej  thus  presenting 
three  points.  This  kind  of  hat  was  worn  by  the  gentlemen  in 
Europe  and  American  throughout  the  18th  century.  The 
cocked  hat  was  also  used  by  the  common  soldiers  in  European 
armies  during  that  period.  At  the  reform  of  military  costume 
jn  Europe  in  1812,  caused  by  the  large  number  in  service,  the 
common  soldier  ceased  to  use  it  there,  but  some  of  the  officers 
continued  its  use. 

When  an  American  militia  man,  without  rank,  wore  a 
chapeau,  it  was  with  a  point  over  each  shoulder  and  feather  in 
the  crown. 


202  FIFE   MUSIC 


waving  feathers,  and  gilded  trappings  of  silver  and 
gold. 

The  dress  of  the  "  Old  Butcher  Troop  "  *  of  cavalry, 
of  New  York  City,  as  given  by  Col.  Thomas  F.  De 
Voe,  was  a  blue  short  tail  coat  trimmed  with  silver 
lace,  which  cost  $60 ;  buckskin  breeches,  cost  115  ; 
long  boot,  cost  $15  to  $20  ;  a  leather  cone  cap  with 
falling  or  hanging  red  horse-hair  from  the  top,  $20. 

The  New  Jersey  militia  wore  dark  blue  clothes 
with  light  blue  facings,  collars  and  cuffs.  They  were 
called  * '  Jersey  Blues. " 

The  uniform  of  some  of  the  other  militia  com 
panies  have  already  been  briefly  described  and  sev 
eral  more  of  them  will  be  noticed  further  on  in  this 
work.  After  these  new  regulations  of  dress  for  the 
regular  army  came  in  use,  the  general  tendency  of 
all  new  military  uniforms  was  characterized  by  the 
forms  these  required. 

A  work  on  "  War  Tactics,"  by  Gen.  Wm.  Duane, 
wfis  adopted  for  use  by  the  war  department.  The 
"  Handbook  for  Infantry  "  by  the  same  author,  was 
the  guide  for  drilling  the  new  troops  raised.  He 
was  adjutant-general  in  the  United  States  army. 

The  music  for  fife  and  drum  was  arranged  in  a 
book  by  Charles  S.  Ashworth,  and  contained  every 
kind  of  drum  beat  for  signals,  camp  duty,  marching, 
etc.,  and  also  every  tune  in  it  on  the  fife  key  that 
should  accompany  the  drum.  It  was  approved  by 
the  war  department  for  use  in  the  army  and  navy 
and  soon  was  in  general  use  by  the  militia. 

*  The  "Old  Butcher  Troop  "  of  New  York  city,  was  com 
posed  wholly  of  butchers,  excepting1  one  man,  a  cartman  (named 
Brombush).  John  Perrin,  Jr.,  was  the  captain,  and  it  was  at 
first  attached  to  Major  James  Warner's  squadron  of  cavalry, 
but  in  1814  it  was  attached  to  and  served  in  Gen.  Jacob  Udell's 
brigade. 


AND  DRUM   BEATING.  203 

It  was  found  that  when  several  companies  of 
militia  were  brought  together  from  different  neigh 
borhoods  that  there  was  no  uniformity  in  their  sys 
tem  or  style  of  beating  the  drum  to  accompany 
tunes,  and  as  for  drum  signals,  etc.,  very  little  was 
known  of  them  by  any  militia  drummer  or  the  men 
in  the  ranks. 

At  the  opening  of  the  session  of  the  New  York 
Legislature  in  January,  1807,  in  his  speech  to  the 
members,  Governor  Morgan  Lewis,  a  veteran  of  the 
Kevolution,  said  :  "  Nor  is  the  deficiency  in  arms  (of 
the  State  militia)  greater  than  that  in  colors  and 
martial  music;  many  regiments  are  totally  destitute 
of  the  former  and  very  ill  provided  with  the  latter. 
So  great  is  the  deficiency  in  this  last  particular  that, 
with  the  exception  of  the  city  of  New  York,  there 
can  scarcely  be  collected  throughout  the  State,  a 
dozen  drummers  capable  of  distinguishing  a  retreat 
from  a  charge." 

The  adoption  of  the  system  proposed  by  Ash- 
worth  was  for  the  purpose  of  obviating  the  confu 
sion  and  embarrassment  which  before  existed. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

De  Witt  Clinton  Re-appointed  Mayor — Common  Council 
honoring  Com.  Buinbrhlg-e — Arrival  of  the  Hornet,  Captain 
Lawrence,  and  prisoners  from  the  Peacock-  Honoring-  Captain 
Lawrence— Dinner  to  his  Crew— Privateer  Gan.  Armstrong. — 
Gen.  Moreau. 

HE  new  (State)  Council  of  Appointment 
^  Iff  in  February  re-appointed  De  Witt  Clin 
ton  Mayor  of  New  York  city  for  another 
term.  This  was  expected,  as  a  majority 
of  the  State  council  wras  Federal.  But 
none  appeared  dissatisfied  with  Mr  Clin 
ton's  course  as  chief  magistrate  of  the 
city,  so  the  war  party  as  well  as  the  Federalists 
united  on  Mr.  Clinton  to  continue  in  the  office  of 
Mayor. 

On  March  1st  the  common  council  passed  com 
plimentary  resolution,  to  Commodore  Bainbridge 
and  his  officers  and  crew  of  the  United  States  frigate 
Constitution,  for  the  capture  of  the  British  war  frig 
ate  Java  on  the  29th  of  December,  offering  him  the 
freedom  of  the  city  and  also  ordering  that  his  por 
trait  be  painted  for  the  Governor's  Room  in  the 
City  Hall.  The  resolutions  were  transmitted  to 
Com.  Bainbridge  on  the  29th  of  March. 

The  resolutions  an  d  preambles  were  offered  to  the 
common  council  by  Mr.  Brackett  and  are  as  fol 
lows  : 

"  In  testimony  of  the  high  sense  entertained  by 
the  common  council  of  the  gallantry  and  skill  of 


COM.    BAINBRIDGE.  205 

Commodore  Wm.  Bainbridge  and  his  officers  and 
crew  on  board  the  United  States  frigate  Constitution 
in  the  late  capture  and  destruction  of  His  Britannic 
Majesty's  frigate  the  Java,  whereby  new  laurels 
have  been  acquired  by  our  gallant  navy,  and  a  new 
instance  afforded  of  the  practical  utility  of  that 
kind  of  defence  for  the  protection  and  encourage 
ment  of  the  important  commercial  interests  of  our 
country;  therefore 

"  Rzsotvzd,  that  the  freedom  of  the  city,  in  a  gold 
box,  be  presented  to  Commodore  Bainbridge,  and 
that  his  portrait  be  obtained  and  set  up  in  the  gal 
lery  of  portraits  belonging  to  this  city,  and  that  the 
thanks  of  the  common  council  be  presented  to  his 
officers  and  crew  who  were  engaged  in  this  achieve 
ment  so  honorable  to  themselves  and  the  nation." 

The  above  was  duly  authenticated  and  enclosed 
to  Commodore  Bainbridge.  His  reply  was  laid  be 
fore  the  common  council  May  31st. 

He  said  in  it :  "  Such  distinguished  favors  from  a 
city  in  which  I  spent  many  happy  days  of  my  juve 
nile  years,  could  not  fail  to  make  a  just  penetration 
011  my  feelings  and  to  command  my  best  wishes 
for  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  its  inhabitants.'' 

On  the  23d  of  March,  authenticated  information 
was  received  of  the  battle  between  the  Hornet, 
Capt.  Lawrence,  and  the  British  brig-of-warPeacocA:, 
and  the  capture  of  the  latter  on  the  24th  of  February, 
off  the  coast  near  Dem arara.  This  was  particularly 
well  received  in  New  York  because  it  was  Capt. 
James  Lawrence,  who  was  regarded  as  a  fellow  citi 
zen.  Although  he  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and 
had  been  in  the  United  States  navy  for  nearly  sixteen 
years  then  passed,  his  home,  which  was  regarded  as 


-206  CAPT.   LAWRENCE. 


at  New  York  city,  had  long  been  the  home  of  his  wife 
and  child.  In  1808  he  married  Miss  Julia  Moun- 
taudevert  who  was  then  residing  with  her  wid 
owed  mother  at  No.  136  Water  street.  He  had  fre 
quently,  of  recent  years,  been  stationed  near  the  city. 
We  have  before  given  an  account  of  his  sailing  with 
the  squadron  to  attack  the  enemy  the  next  day  after 
the  declaration  of  war  was  announced  (Ante,  p.  4). 
The  cruise  from  which  he  was  now  returning  was 
from  Boston  in  November  in  company  with  Commo 
dore  Bainbridge  who  had  captured  the  Java. 

The  Hornet  and  the  prisoners  taken  on  board  the 
Peacock  (the  latter  vessel  soon  sunk  after  the  bat 
tle)  arrived  in  the  Brooklyn  navy  yard,  on  the  25th 
of  March,  having  sailed  through  the  Sound  and  Hell 
Gate.  The  next  morning  the  prisoners,  one  hun 
dred  and  six  in  number,  were  brought  over  f rom  the 
navy  yard  and  marched  through  the  streets  to  Fort 
Gansevoort.  The  officers  were  paroled. 

The  five  surviving  officers  of  the  Peacock  present 
ed  to  Capt.  Lawrence  a  tribute  of  gratitude  in 
writing  signed  by  them  dated  at  New  York,  27th  of 
March,  in  which  among  other  sentiments  they  "beg 
leave  to  return  you  our  grateful  acknowledgements 
for  the  kind  attention  and  hospitality  we  experi 
enced  during  the  time  we  remained  on  board  the 
United  States  sloop  Hornet. " 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  common  council  on 
March  29th,  Mr.  Lawrence,  of  the  common  council, 
presented  to  that  body  the  following  resolutions 
which  were  unanimously  agreed  to: 

"  The  common  council  of  the  city  of  New  York 
being  fully  convinced  that  a  navy  establishment  is 
important  to  the  protection  of  commerce  and  to  the 


GAPT.    LAWRKNCE.  207 

defence  of  our  country,  and  viewing  the  late  cap 
ture  of  the  British  sloop-of-war  Peacock  by  the 
American  sloop-of-war  Hornet  as  reflecting  the 
highest  honor  on  the  intrepidity  and  skill  of  Capt. 
Lawrence,  his  officers  and  crew,  and  being  solicitous 
at  all  times  to  offer  the  meed  of  applause  to  those  of 
our  gallant  officers  who  thus  eminently  deserve  it, 
they  avail  themselves  of  the  present  occasion  to 
present  the  thanks  of  the  citizens  of  New  York  to  the 
officers  and  crew  who  achieved  this  splendid  victory. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  freedom  of  the  city  be  pre 
sented  to  Capt.  James  Lawrence,  together  with  a 
piece  of  plate  with  appropriate  devices  and  inscrip 
tions  thereon,  and  that  his  honor,  the  Eecorder, 
Pierce  C.  Van  Wyck,  be  requested  to  present  the 
same  with  a  copy  of  this  resolution. 

1 '  Resolved,  That  in  testimony  of  the  high  sense 
the  common  council  entertain  of  the  conduct  of  the 
crew  of  the  United  States  sloop-of-war  Hornet  by 
the  capture  of  H.  B.  M.  sloop-of-war  Peacock  in  the 
unexampled  short  period  of  fifteen  minutes,  that 
the  common  council  will  give  a  public  dinner  to  the 
said  gallant  crew  of  the  said  sloop-of-war  Hornet." 

Alderman  Mesier  and  Messrs.  Lawrence  and 
King  were  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  the  same 
into  effect. 

In  Capt.  Lawrence's  reply  to  these  resolutions  he 
said:  "For  these  testimonials  of  public  regard 
from  such  a  respectable  and  honorable  body  I  can 
not  but  feel  the  sincerest  gratitude,  and  I  shall  ever 
esteem  the  honors  that  have  been  so  liberally 
awarded  by  the  common  council  of  the  city  of  New 
York  as  among  the  highest  and  most  valuable 
which  my  country  can  bestow." 


208  DINNER  TO   TUP: 


The  New  York  State  Society  of  Cincinnati  had 
been  very  sparing  of  admitting  honorary  members, 
which  was  only  a  personal  honor  during  life  and 
not  hereditary  like  those  of  regular  membership, 
but  entitled  to  all  other  rights  of  membership.  In 
February  Commodore  Decatur  and  Capt.  Jones 
were  unanimously  elected  as  honorary  members 
and  soon  •  after  Commodore  Bainbridge  was  also 
elected  to  an  honorary  membership.  On  the  14th 
of  April.  Capt.  Lawrence  was  elected  an  honorary 
member  to  be  admitted  on  4th  of  July,  1813.* 

On  the  4th  of  May  agreeably  to  a  vote  of  the 
common  council  a  dinner  was  given  to  Capt.  Law 
rence  of  the  Hornet  and  his  gallant  crew.  The  din 
ner  was  given  at  Washington  Hall  under  the  man 
agement  of  Mr.  Crocker  and  was  the  first  enter 
tainment  given  in  that  establishment,  which  had 
then  been  recently  completed. 

The  seamen  came  in  barges  from  their  ships  and 
landed  at  Whitehall  at  half -past  two  P.M.  They 
were  attended  by  the  band  of  the  Eleventh  Kegi- 
ment  (Col.  Harsen's  artillery)  and  marched  through 
Pearl  Street.  Wall  Street,  and  Broadway  to  W7ash- 
ington  Hall.  On  their  way  they  were  greeted  by 
the  constant  huzzas  of  their  admiring  and  grateful 
countrymen.  At  half -past  three  o'clock  the  petty 
officers,  seamen  and  marines,  sat  down  to  a  plenti 
ful  dinner  prepared  for  them  in  the  Hall. 

Paintings  representing  the  victories  of  Hull,  Deca 
tur,  Jones  and  Bainbridge  decorated  the  walls,  and 

*  There  was  only  one  other  person  admitted  to  honorary 
membership  during-  the  war  and  that  was  Capt.  Oliver  H. 
Perry,  who  was  a  great  favorite  in  New  York.  Several  of  the 
heroes  of  the  war  were  after  its  close  admitted  to  honorary, 
membership  of  the  society. 


CREW  OF  THE  HORNE1.  209 

over  the  chair  of  the  presiding  officer,  the  boatswain 
of  the  Hornet,  was  an  elegant  view  by  Holland  of 
the  action  of  the  Hornet  with  the  Peacock.  The 
table  was  decorated  with  a  great  variety  of  flags, 
with  emblems  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  painted 
by  a  young  gentleman  of  the  city. 

After  the  meats  were  removed  a  visit  was  made 
by  the  members  of  the  common  council,  accompa 
nied  by  Capt.  Lawrence.  At  the  sight  of  their 
commander  the  sailors  arose  and  heartily  cheered 
him  with  three  times  three.  The  boatswain  of  the 
Hornet  presided  in  such  a  manner  that  perfect  order 
and  decorum  was  observed  and  the  bottle,  the  song 
and  the  toast  passed  in  jocund  glee. 

In  another  room  a  dinner  was  set  for  the  officers 
of  the  corporation.  Among  the  guests  were  Capt. 
Lawrence  and  all  his  officers,  the  commanders  of  all 
the  ships  of  war  on  the  New  York  station,  many  of 
the  judges  of  the  courts,  and  Col.  Joseph  G.  Swift, 
the  commander  of  the  corps  of  engineers.  This 
room  was  decorated  with  various  emblematic  paint 
ings  by  Mr.  Holland,  descriptive  of  our  naval  victo 
ries.  Some  of  them  were  those  that  had  decorated  the 
great  naval  dinner  to  Decatur,  Hull  and  Jones  in 
December  previous. 

The  crew  were  invited  to  attend  the  theater  in  the 
evening  to  witness  the  performance.  The  proprie 
tors  set  apart  the  pit  for  them,  and  they  marched  in 
a  body  from  the  dinner  table  to  the  theater  at  six 
o'clock.  The  front  of  the  theater  was  brilliantly  il 
luminated.  The  pieces  were  "  Wild  Oats,"  and  a 
musical  afterpiece  called  i '  The  Shipwreck. "  Be 
tween  the  pieces  the  famous  letter  dance,  which  .was 
exhibited  at  the  naval  dinner  in  December,  was 


210  DEATH  OF  CAPT.    LAWRENCE. 

again  performed  and  also  the  song  of  "Yankee 
Frolics."  A  new  patriotic  song  called  the  "  Budget 
of  Blunders  "  was  sung.  Capt.  Lawrence,  with  the 
common  council  committee  of  arrangement,  visited 
the  theater.  On  their  appearance  the  jolly  tars  gave 
their  commander  three  huzzas  of  welcome,  in  which 
the  large  audience  most  heartily  joined. 

About  the  middle  of  May  the  secretary  of  the  navy 
ordered  Capt.  Lawrence  to  take  command  of  the 
frigate  Constitution  and  directions  to  superintend 
the  Brooklyn  navy  yard.  The  next  day  the  order 
was  countermanded  and  he  was  directed  to  pro 
ceed  to  Boston  and  take  command  of  the  Chesapeake. 
He  did  so,  leaving  his  family  in  New  York.  *  The 
battle  with  the  Shannon  took  place  on  June  1  st,  off 
Boston  light-house,  and  he  fell  mortally  wounded 
and  died  a  prisoner  in  Halifax  three  days  after 
ward. 

The  plate  which  was  directed  to  be  given  to 
Captain  Lawrence  was  not  prepared  in  time  for  pre 
sentation  before  his  departure  for  Boston.  His  death 
having  so  soon  after  occurred  it  was  never  complet 
ed  or  presented  to  him  ;  but  the  common  council  in 
September  gave  a  substantial  appropriation  to  his 
children  (see  post,  chap,  xvi.)  and  the  giving  of  plate 
was  abandoned. 

In  April  the  privateer  Gen.  Armstrong,  Guy  K. 
Champlin,  commander  (ante,  p.  124),  returned  to 
New  York  and  reported  to  her  stockholders  her  suc- 

*Capt.  Lawrence  was  a  great  favorite  in  New  York  City,  par 
ticularly  among-  the  Federalists.  It  seems  to  the  writer  'that  it 
was  a  matter  of  spite  to  Capt.  Lawrence  and  his  friends  in  New 
York  on^  the  part  of  the  authorities  at  Washington,  that  he 
should  be  ordered  to  Boston  and  not  allowed  to  stay  in  New 
York.  He  had  already  been  unjustly  outranked  by  the  same 
authorities. 


GEN.   MORKAU.  211 


cessf ul  defence  in  an  attack  upon  her  by  a  British 
frigate  of  24  guns  off  Surinam.  The  stockholders 
held  a  meeting  at  Tammany  Hall  on  April  14th  and 
voted  that  a  sword  be  presented  to  Capt.  Champlin, 
at  the  expense  of  the  stockholders,  for  his  gallant 
conduct  in  the  rencontre — Thomas  Farmar  was 
chairman,  and  Thomas  Jenkins  was  secretary  of  the 
meeting. 

It  had  been  expected  for  several  months  that  one 
of  the  most  respected  residents  of  New  York  city, 
Gen.  Victor  Moreau,  would  sail  for  Europe  and  join 
the  allies.  Bonaparte  exiled  him  from  France  in 
1804,  because  of  his  supposed  complicity  with 
others  against  Napoleon,  and  he  now  had  an  invita 
tion  from  the  Emperor  of  Russia  to  join  the  allies,- 
and  assuring  him  that  he  would  be  accorded  a  high 
position  in  the  army  against  Napoleon.  He  accept 
ed  this  invitation  and  prepared  to  sail  for  Europe  at 
an  early  day.  He  had  been  a  resident  of  New  York 
city  for  nine  years,  and  had  resided  at  No.  119 
Pearl  Street,  among  the  most  respected  families  of 
that  day. 

A  gentleman  residing  in  the  city  at  the  time,  said 
to  the  writer  :  "  While  Gen.  Moreau  resided  among 
us  he  was  esteemed  for  his  great  talents,  elegant 
manners,  and  princely  entertainments." 

Gen.  Moreau  sailed  for  Gotteiiburg  in  June  and 
joined  the  allies  and  drew  up  the  plan  of  the  cam 
paign  against  the  French  in  1813,  which  proved  so 
disastrous  to  Napoleon. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Enemies  off  Sandy  Hook — Steamboats  in  the  Harbor — Mili 
tia  to  Defend  the  City — Works  at  the  Battery  Parade — Gen. 
Swift  in  command  on  Staten  Island— Shipowners'  Association 
— Skirmish  at  Sandy  Hook— Common  Council's  Petition  to 
Congress — Blockade  of  the  Port — All  the  City  Regiments  in 
Arms — Parade  anil  Sham  Fight — Political  Court  Martial. 

TV  LKE ADY  the  effects  of  the  campaign 
\      of  1812  in  Europe  were  being  felt  on 
the  seaboard  in  America,  by  the  ap 
pearance  of  a  larger  number  of  the 
enemy's  war  vessels  on  our  coasts, 
and  much  fear  was  felt  as  to  their 
ultimate    intentions    of    invading 
some  of  the  large  seaports  on  the 
coast  between  Newport  and  Cape  Hatteras. 

Alarm  guns  were  frequently  heard  in  the  city  as 
a  signal  that  the  enemy's  war  vessels  were  in  sight 
off  Sandy  Hook. 

At  this  time  there  were  nine  steamboats  used  at 
and  about  New  York  city.  Three  went  to  Albany, 
one  to  Amboy,  one  to  Tappan,  N.  Y.,  one  to  Hobo- 
ken,  and  occasionally  one  to  Elizabeth,  N.  J. ;  two 
others  were  used  as  ferry  boats,  one  to  Powles' 
Hook  and  one  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

On  April  llth,  several  pilots  came  up  from  Sandy 
Hook  in  the  evening,  and  stated  that  the  captain  of 
the  schooner  Live  Oak,  from  Cadiz,  informed  them 
that  on  the  10th  in  sight  of  Sandy  Hook  lighthouse, 
he  was  boarded  by  a  British  frigate,  and  that  ten 


VOL  UNTEER8  ON  STA  TEN  ISLAND.  2 1 3 

ships-of-the-line  and  several  frigates  (razees)  were 
in  sight  in  company.  Two  of  the  enemy's  ships 
were  off  Sandy  Hook  all  day. 

The  captive  vessel,  the  Alert.,  was  anchored  in 
Buttermilk  channel,  between  Governor's  Island  and 
Long  Island,  as  a  United  States  guard  ship. 

In  April,  by  special  order  of  the  President,  Col.  J. 
G.  Swift,  of  the  engineers,  received  the  command  of 
Stateii  Island,  and  the  brigade  composed  of  Col. 
Hawkins'  second  regiment  New  York  volunteers, 
Lieut. -Col.  Alex.  Denniston's  third  regiment  New 
York  volunteers,  and  the  thirty-second  United 
States  infantry  under  Col.  S.  K  Fotterall,  were 
placed  under  him. 

This  he  exercised  in  addition  to  his  duties  as 
chief  engineer  and  his  charge  of  the  military  academy 
at  West  Point.  Col.  Swift  was  at  that  time  person 
ally  superintending  the  fortifications  of  New  York 
harbor. 

Some  volunteers,  about  1,200  in  number,  under 
Lieut. -Col.  Andrew  Sitcher,  of  the  artillery,  were 
sent  to  Staten  Island  for  a  time  in  the  spring  and 
early  summer,  but  their  enlistment  was  held  to  be 
illegal,  and  many  of  them  were  discharged  on 
habeas  corpus  whenever  it  was  applied  for.  Some 
of  the  officers  and  most  of  the  men  were  in  July 
incorporated  in  the  forty-first  United  States  in 
fantry  under  Col.  Robert  Bogardus. 

On  the  llth  of  May,  1813,  two  hundred  men  of 
the  New  Jersey  militia  were  sent  to  Navesink 
Heights  (the  Highlands)  for  service  for  thirty  days 
or  until  relieved.  They  were  in  six  companies  under 
command  of  Colonel  James  Abrahams. 


214  NEW  JERSEY  MILITIA  IN  SKEV1CK. 


The  National  Advocate  (Henry  Wheaton,  Esq., 
editor)  on  May  15th  contained  the  following  : 

"We  are  authorized  to  state  that  the  article  in 
the  Post  of  last  evening,  respecting  the  defence  of 
the  city,  is  in  every  material  particular  an  unfound 
ed  misrepresentation.  It  is  untrue  that  Gen.  Izard 
has  left  the  battery  a  shapeless  mass,  after  break 
ing  it  up  by  permission  of  the  'corporation  ;  on  the 
contrary,  the  work  has  been  delayed  by  unfavora 
ble  circumstances,  the  effect  of  which  have  now 
ceased,  and  it  will  be  immediately  completed,  and 
the  cannon  mounted.  It  is  untrue  that  he  has  no 
money  to  go  further.  It  is  untrue  that  the  three 
regiments  of  volunteers  raised  for  the  defence  of 
the  city  have  been  discharged.  On  the  contrary 
there  are  several  thousands  now  in  service  for  its 
defence.  And  we  are  authorized  to  answer  the 
question  put  in  the  Post,  by  saying  that  the  Gen 
eral  has  not  received  orders  from  Washington  not 
to  call  out  the  militia  at  the  expense  of  the  United 
States  government.  On  the  contrary,  there  is  now 
a  large  body  of  Jersey  militia  in  the  pay  of  the  gov 
ernment,  and  stationed  at  different  important  posts. n 

The  Evening  Post  was  edited  by  Wm.  Coleman 
at  that  time. 

On  the  17th  of  May  an  ordinance  was  passed  by  the 
common  council  prohibiting  all  persons  firing  or 
discharging  any  gun,  pistol,  fowling-piece,  or  fire 
arms  at  any  place  in  the  city  of  New  York  within 
five  miles  of  the  City  Hall  under  penalty  of  $25 
fine.  This  prohibition  did  not  extend  to  an 3^  military 
exercises  or  reviews.  A  master  was  liable  for  his 
apprentice,  a  guardian  for  his  ward,  a  parent  for 
his  child. 


SAILORS'  ASSOCIATION.  215 

On  the  17th  of  May,  a  request  was  made  to  the 
masters  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  port  of  New 
York  to  attend  at  the  Phoenix  Coffee  House,  on  the 
22d  of  May,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into  consider 
ation  their  aid  in  the  defence  of  the  city.  At  that 
meeting  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : 

"1st.  That  it  is  the  boundeii  duty  of  every  good 
citizen,  when  his  country  is  invaded  (whatever  may 
be  his  sentiments  with  respect  to  the  justice  or  pol 
icy  of  the  war),  to  unite  with  heart  and  hand  to  re 
pel  every  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  bring  the  horrors 
of  war  to  their  own  doors. 

' '  2d.  That  being  desirous  of  giving  the  utmost 
efficiency  to  our  humble  means  in  the  present  alarm 
ing  crisis,  we  deem  it  proper,  after  having  enrolled 
ourselves  in  due  form  with  the  organizations  here 
after  set  forth,  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to 
wait  on  his  excellency  the  governor,  tendering  our 
services  for  the  defence  of  the  city. 

"  3d.  That  an  enrollment  shall  immediately  take 
place,  and  for  every  eighty  members  so  enrolled, 
there  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  one  captain,  two 
lieutenants  and  six  inferior  officers,  to  command  the 
different  guns  assigned  to  said  company  ;  and  that 
the  subscribers  who  thus  voluntarily  incorporate 
themselves  are  pledged  to  conform  cheerfully  to  such 
by-laws  as  the  majority  may  enact. 

% '  -4-th.  That,  whereas,  the  mates  of  vessels  now 
in  port,  or  that  may  arrive,  are  a  numerous 
and  reputable  body  of  our  fellow  citizens  not  imme 
diately  subject  to  any  military  duty,  and  we  trust, 
equally  anxious  with  ourselves  to  defend  our  city, 
an  invitation  should  be  made  in  the  public  papers 


216  STRINGENT  MEASURES 

to  enroll  themselves  with  us  in  the  present  effort 
for  our  mutual  protection." 

Having  passed  the  above  resolutions  a  number  of 
by-laws  were  enacted  as  mentioned  in  the  third  res 
olution,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  attend  at  the 
Phoenix  Coffee  House  from  the  hours  of  11  to  12 
A.M.,  daily,  to  receive  the  signatures  of  such  masters 
and  mates  as  may  be  willing  to  join  the  association 
for  the  purposes  above  set  forth.  The  chairman  of 
this  meeting  was  Henry  W.  Bool,  the  secretary  was 
Thomas  PI.  Merry. 

On  the  night  of  the  22d  of  May  several  cannon 
on  the  breastworks  around  the  battery  parade  were 
spiked.  It  was  not  thought  to  have  been  the  work 
of  an  alien  enemy. 

Soon  after  the  announcement  of  the  war,  the  war 
department  required  that  each  alien  should  have 
his  name  and  address  registered  in  the  office  of  the 
United  States  marshal  in  the  district  where  such 
alien  was  sojourning,  and  provided  a  penalty  for  not 
so  doing.  This  was  carried  out  in  New  York  city, 
and  on  April  1st,  1818,  there  were  2,300  names  of 
aliens  registered  on  the  marshal's  books. 

On  Sunday  evening,  May  29th,  seven  boats  with 
muffled  oars,  belonging  to  the  British  squadron  off 
New  York,  made  an  attempt  to  land  on  Sandy 
Hook.  Their  object  was  to  attack  by  surprise,  but 
the  sentinel  discovered  their  approach  and  fired 
upon  them.  The  picket  guard  then  took  the 
alarm  and  poured  a  volley  into  the  boats — they  re 
turned  the  fire  and  instantly  pulled  off  to  the 
squadron. 

The  United  States  arsenal,  etc  ,  on  Bloomingdale 
Road  (now  Madison  Square),  had  forty  workmen  in 


FOE  PROTECTION.  217 


the  laboratory  and  shops.  All  kinds  of  ammuni 
tion  for  garrison  and  field  service  were  prepared 
there.  In  the  workshops  were  made  gun  carriages, 
ammunition  wagons,  traveling  forges,  and  every 
other  apparatus  for  the  artillery.  These  were  all 
under  the  direction  of  the  United  States  commis 
sary  department. 

At  the  Bloomingdale  Road  arsenal  there  were 
ahout  forty  pieces  of  ordnance  on  field  carriages, 
completed  and  equipped,  belonging  to  the  United 
States  and  eleven  more  were  nearly  ready.  There 
were  also  nine  ten -inch  mortars  being  mounted* 

The  common  council  in  May  ordered  that  a 
corps  of  120  cartmeii  be  enlisted  at  $1.50  a  day 
when  called  upon  to  move  the  forty  pieces  of  heavy 
artillery  which  was  in  the  United  States  arsenal  on 
Bloomingdale  Road.  Soon  after  this  some  of  these 
cannon  were  removed  to  earthworks  at  Grade's 
Point  to  guard  the  pass  of  Hell  Gate. 

More  stringent  measures  and  regulations  affect 
ing  alien  enemies  residing  in  New  York  and  vicinity 
were  taken,  and  those  traveling  from  one  district 
to  another  were  required  to  have  a  pass-port  which 
was  to  be  inspected  and  registered  on  the  arrival  of 
the  bearer  of  it. 

The  captive  vessel,  the  Macedonian,  was  fitted  out 
for  sea  at  the  Brooklyn  navy  yard,  and  placed  in 
command  of  Captain  Jones.  The  entrance  to  the 
harbor  through  the  Narrows  was  so  carefully 
watched  by  the  British  blockading  squadron,  these 
consisting  of  the  Poictlers,  T-t  guns,  Captain  Beres- 
ford,  and  a  number  of  other  vessels,  that  Decatur 
was  unable  to  get  to  sea  with  his  squadron  in 
that  direction. 


218  BLOCKADE  OF  THE 

So  towards  the  end  of  May,  Decatur  determined 
to  run  the  blockade  through  Long  Island  Sound. 
Accordingly  he  passed  up  the  East  Kiver  on  the 
25th  of  May,  with  the  United  States,  -44  guns,  and 
the  Macedonian,  38  guns  (Capt.  Jones),  and  the 
Hornet,  16  guns  (Capt.  Biddle).  Up  to  this  time  no 
vessels  the  size  of  those  had  ever  attempted  to  pass 
Hell  Gate  and  get  to  sea  in  that  direction.  It  was 
accomplished  successfully  and  Com.  Decatur  an 
chored  near  Biker's  Island  for  a  favorable  oppor 
tunity  to  sail  up  the  Sound  and  get  to  sea. 

In  March  information  reached  New  York  that  a 
very  large  number  of  British  war  vessels  had  en 
tered  Chesapeake  and  Delaware  bays,  and  more 
wTere  expected  daily.  It  was  stated  that  these  ves 
sels  carried  about  800  cannons  and  had  on  board  a 
disposable  force  of  sailors  and  marines  of  from  1,500 
to  2, 000,  with  boats  to  land  them,  and  a  large  sup 
ply  of  bombs,  Congreve  rockets,  etc.  Besides  these 
they  had  several  small  vessels  for  the  purpose  of 
cruising  on  shore  at  night.  The  report  stated  that 
"everything  indicates  a  plan  of  extensive  and 
speedy  operation."  The  subsequent  attacks  and 
pillages  along  those  coasts  up  to  about  the  middle 
of  May  caused  much  alarm  for  the  safety  of  New 
York  city. 

All  the  pilots  in  about  New  York  harbor  received 
orders  from  the  military  commander  here  not  to 
bring  any  British  vessel  within  the  waters  of  the 
harbor,  even  if  sailing  under  a  flag  of  truce,  or 
otherwise. 

On  May  31st,  the  British  vessels  off  New  York 
received  official  notice  of  the  order  for  blockading 
that  port  at  the  Narrows  and  then  refused  entry 


PORT  OF  NEW  YORK. 


into  that  port  of  neutral  and  licensed  trading 
vessels.  The  entry  by  way  of  Long  Island  Sound 
and  Hell  Gate  had  not  been  interfered  with  for  that 
class  of  trading  vessels,  and  the  coasting  trade  in 
that  direction  was  very  active. 

The  blockading  of  Chesapeake  and  Delaware 
bays  and  the  presence  of  the  enemy's  forces  in  and 
about  them  during  the  Spring,  caused  a  diversion 
of  trading  vessels  to  the  port  of  New  York  where 
as  yet  a  greater  safety  was  afforded  for  neutral 
licensed  American  trading  vessels. 

Licensed  and  neutral  vessels  were  not  yet  mo 
lested  by  the  British  squadron  off  New  York  as  late 
as  June,  1813,  and  there  were  many  arrivals  and 
clearances  at  this  port. 

The  information  of  the  blockade  of  New  York, 
and  the  appearance  of  a  greater  number  of  British 
war  vessels  along  the  coast,  caused  a  general  appre 
hension  that  a  more  vigorous  prosecution  of  invasion 
was  intended. 

The  fortifications  were  strengthened.  It  was 
reported  that  upwards  of  100  pieces  of  the  heaviest 
cannon  were  stationed  •  at  the  Narrows.  Eighty- 
nine  of  them  were  in  Forts  Kichmond  and  Hudson, 
on  Staten  Island,  and  the  others  were  at  the  earth 
works  at  Denyse's  Heights,  a  little  west  of  where 
Fort  Hamilton  now  is.  There  were  none  over  32- 
pounders.  A  line  of  torpedoes  were  anchored  at  the 
Narrows  ready  to  be  stretched  across  the  channel 
on  short  notice  so  as  to  blow  up  vessels  passing  by 
the  forts. 

Gen.  Izard  was  in  the  immediate  command  of  all 
the  forts  in  New  York  city,  and  had  his  head- 


220  COMMON  COUNCIL 


quarters  in  the  fort  off  the  Battery  parade  (now 
Castle  Garden). 

Lieut. -Col.  James  House  commanded  a  detach 
ment  of  several  companies  of  the  third  United 
States  artillery,  and  was  stationed  on  Governor's 
Island. 

Gen.  Swift  was  in  command  of  the  forces  on 
Staten  Island. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  common  council  on  24th 
of  May,  Alderman  Mesier  moved  that  the  Com 
mittee  of  Defence  be  requested  to  draft  a  respectful 
memorial  to  Congress  on  the  subject  of  the  defence 
of  this  post  to  be  reported  to  the  board  at  the  next 
meeting.  The  resolution  was  adopted. 

At  their  next  meeting  on  the  31st  of  May  Alder 
man  Fish,  from  the  Committee  of  Defence,  presented 
a  draft  of  a  memorial  to  the  general  government 
on  the  defence  of  New  York,  which  was  as  follows  : 

*' '  To  the  Hon.  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represen 
tatives  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  : 

"The  Common  Council  of  the  city  of  New  York 
in  behalf  of  the  people  of  that  city  most  respect 
fully  represent — 

' '  That  having  made  application  to  different  con 
stituted  authorities  for  the  protection  of  this  city 
and  still  finding  it  in  a  very  critical  and  exposed 
situation,  they  consider  it  their  solemn  and  indis 
pensable  duty  to  make  this  representation  in  the 
last  resort  to  the  constitutional  guardians  of  the 
common  defence  and  general  welfare. 

' '  When  the  constitution  of  the  United  States 
guarantees  each  state  against  invasion  it  undoubt 
edly  declares  that  all  the  means  in  the  power  of  the 
national  government  shall  be  used  for  the  purpose 


PETITIONS  CONGUES8.  221 

of  defence.  In  calling  upon  the  senate  and  house  of 
representatives  to  perform  the  guarantee  enjoined  by 
the  federal  compact,  we  wish  to  be  explicity  under 
stood  that  we  solicit  no  partial  indulgence  or  par 
ticular  favor. 

"The  great  portion  of  revenue  which  is  collected 
in  this  city  ;  the  valuable  commerce  which  has 
been  carried  on  ;  the  immense  wealth  which  is  here 
accumulated,  and  the  extensive  and  severe  distress 
which  might  be  produced  in  this  part  of  the  Union, 
must  render  it  an  object  of  the  first  importance  to 
the  policy  as  well  as  the  cupidity  of  the  enemy  to 
make  a  successful  attack  upon  this  place,  and  when 
it  is  considered  that  hostile  ships  of  war  are  at 
this  moment  cruising  within  twenty-five  miles  of 
this  city  and  that  with  a  favorable  wind  ships-of- 
the-line  can  come  up  to  our  wharves  in  two  hours 
from  the  ocean,  it  must  be  admitted  that  there  is  as 
great  if  not  greater  reason  to  apprehend  danger 
here  than  at  those  places  on  the  waters  of  the 
Delaware  and  the  Chesapeake  which  have  been 
menaced  by  the  approach  of  the  enemy. 

"With  full  confidence  in  the  commanding  officer 
assigned  to  this  place,  and  without  the  most  distant 
intention  of  criminating  any  branch  of  the  govern 
ment,  we  still  deem  it  our  duty  to  state  in  the 
most  "explicit  manner,  that  we  are  now  in  a  more 
dangerous  situation  than  we  have  been  in  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  number  of  men  stationed  in 
the  different  forts  is  totally  inadequate,  and  no  call 
has  been  made  upon  the  militia  to  supply  the  defi 
ciency.  In  this  last  respect  we  are  peculiarly  situat 
ed,  for  while  less  exposed  places  in  other  parts  of 
the  Union  are  protected  by  militia  called  out  at  the 


222  PERILOUS  POSITION 

expense  of  the  United  States,  we  .are  deprived  of 
this  mode  of  defence  ;  and  while  we  readily  admit 
that  large  expenditures  have  been  made  for  the 
erection  of  fortifications  in  this  port,  yet  we  are  at 
the  same  time  constrained  to  state  that  the  im 
portant  works  on  Hendrick's  Reef,  on  the  adjoin 
ing  heights  of  Long  Island,  at  Sandy  Hook,  at  the 
Battery  on  this  island,  and  at  Fort  Gansevoort,  are 
in  a  very  imperfect  state  ;  and  the  pass  to  this  city 
by  the  Sound  is  entirely  undefended,  and  it  is  well 
understood  that  a  ship-of-the-line  can  approach  us 
in  that  direction  with  very  inconsiderable  risk  as  to 
the  navigation. 

"  To  enter  into  a  more  detailed  account  of  our 
situation  would  be  unnecessary  and  perhaps  im 
proper,  but  as  we  consider  the  object  of  this 
memorial  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  prosper 
ity  of  this  city  and  the  extensive  country  with 
which  it  is  connected  by  commerce  and  the  ties  of 
mutual  interests,  we  have  authorized  a  committee 
of  this  board  to  repair  with  it  to  the  seat  of  the 
national  government  and  to  make  such  other  re 
spectful  representations  as  the  emergency  of  the 
case  and  our  very  critical  situation  imperiously  re 
quire,  and  they  will  be  specially  chargeable  to  state 
to  your  honorable  body  that  every  measure  in  the 
power  of  your  memorialists  will  be  promptly 
adopted  to  promote  the  means  of  defence  prescribed 
by  the  general  government,  and  we  are  fully  per 
suaded  that  our  fellow  citizens  will  also  cheerfully 
and  unanimously  co-operate. 

"  And  your  memorialists,  etc.,  etc." 

This  report  was  approved  and  ordered  to  be  duly 
authenticated,   and  it  was  resolved  that  Alderman 


8IIOWN  TO  CONGRESS.  223 


Mesier  and  Mr.  King  be  a  committee  to  wait  on  the 
President  of  the  United  States  and  present  the  said 
memorial. 

The  new  Congress  met  on  May  24th,  1813.  The 
President's  message  to  Congress  on  that  day  was  ob 
tained  by  the  agents  of  the  New  York  Gazette  and 
the  Evening  Post  and  at  their  joint  expense  was  for 
warded  from  Washington  to  New  York  and  arrived 
in  twenty-seven  hours  by  private  express  and  ap 
peared  in  the  Post  on  the  26th  of  May. 

The  former  Congress  that  expired  on  March  3d, 
1813,  had  as  representatives  from  New  York  city, 
Richmond  and  Rockland  counties,  which  composed 
the  second  congressional  district  of  the  State,  two 
members,  Dr.  Samuel  L.  Mitchell  arid  William 
Paulding,  Jr.  (ante,  p.  104);  they  were  voted  for  at 
large  in  the  district.  The  new  Congress  by  the  new 
apportionment  had  representatives  from  two  dis 
tricts,  one  composed  of  the  first  and  second  wards  of 
New  York  and  the  counties  of  Kings,  Queens,  Suf 
folk  and  Richmond.  This  district  was  represented  by 
Ebenezer  Sage,  of  Sag  Harbor,  who  had  represented 
his  district  in  the  former  Congress,  and  by  John 
Lefferts,  of  Kings  county,  both  of  them  were  demo 
crats.  The  remaining  wards  of  New  York  city, 
comprised  another  district  represented  by  two  mem 
bers,  Egbert  Benson  and  Dr.  Jotharn  Post,  Jr.,  both 
of  whom  were  ardent  Federalists.  Judge  Benson 
and  Dr.  Post  were  both  elected  by  the  party  which 
then  had  for  its  platform  "  Liberty,  Peace  and  Com 
merce."  The  senators  in  Congress  then  represent 
ing  the  State  of  New  York  were  Rufus  King,  of  New 
York  city,  and  Obadiah  German,  of  Chenango  county. 

Gov.  Tompkins,  who  had  been  re-elected  in  April 


224  MILITIA  ORDERED 

for  another  three  years  term  as  Governor,  was  at 
his  home  in  this  city  and  fully  alive  to  the  danger 
ous  situation  of  the  inhabitants. 

Something  was  necessary  to  be  immediately  done 
while  waiting  for  the  action  of  the  national  govern 
ment  on  the  petition  of  the  common  council  for 
means  of  further  defence.  Accordingly  011  the 
same  day,  31st  of  May,  Governor  Tompkins  issued 
the  following  military  order  : 


''STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 
"GENERAL  ORDERS. 


"HEADQUARTERS,  NEW  YORK,  May  31,  1813. 

i '  The  commandants  of  the  several  brigades  of  in 
fantry  and  of  the  brigade  of  artillery  in  the  southern 
district,  and  the  commandant  of  the  brigade  of  cav 
alry  comprehending  the  southern  district,  are  re 
quired  without  delay  to  fix  upon  places  of  rendez 
vous  for  the  respective  regiments,  battalions  and 
companies  within  their  respective  brigades  and  with 
in  the  southern  district,  preparatory  to  invasion  or 
alarm,  and  to  report  the  same  in  writing  to  Major- 
General  Stevens  of  the  artillery,  the  senior  militia 
officer  in  said  district,  who  will  without  delay  report 
the  same  to  the  commander-in-chief  for  the  time  be 
ing.  The  orders  and  directions  of  Major-General 
Stevens,  in  case  of  invasion  or  alarm,  will  be  implic 
itly  obeyed  by  all  militia  officers  within  the  southern 
district. 

"By  order  of  the  commandant-in-chief, 

"  ROBERT  MACOMB,  Aid-de-camp." 

On  the  4th  of  June  Gen.  Robert  Bogardus,  who 
was  then  in  command  of  the  third  brigade  of  militia 


TO  BE  READY.  225 


infantry  in  place  of  Gen.  P.  P.  Van  Zandt  (who  had 
resigned  on  Nov.  12,  1812),  by  order  designated  that 
in  case  of  invasion  or  alarm,  the  142d  regiment  (Col. 
Jonas  Mapes)  should  rendezvous  in  East  Rutgers 
Street,  opposite  the  church.  The  125th  regiment 
(Col.  Daniel  Dodge)  in  Chatham  Street  (now  Park 
Row),  opposite  the  park.  The  10th  regiment  (Col. 
Andrew  Anderson)  in  Duane  Street,  opposite  Har 
mony  Hall.  The  51st  regiment  (Col.  Isaac  A.  Van 
Hook)  in  Bowery  Road,  between  Grand  and 
Broome  Streets.  The  82d  regiment  (Major  Strong) 
in  the  Bowery  Road,  between  Grand  and  Hector 
Streets.  The  146th  regiment  (from  Staten  Island) 
(Col.  Connor)  at  such  place  as  he  may  designate  and 
communicate  to  the  brigade  commander  :  that  im 
mediately  after  forming,  the  several  regiments,  ex 
cept  the  146th,  march  to  the  brigade  rendezvous  at 
the  City  Hall  Park.  The  brigade-major,  brigade- 
quartermaster,  the  aid-de-camp  and  the  command 
ants  of  regiments  were  to  repair  to  the  brigadier- 
general's  headquarters,  56  Cherry  Street. 

The  officers  were  to  see  that  the  men  were  prop 
erly  armed  and  equipped  for  active  duty  ;  that  a 
strict  compliance  with  the  standing  brigade  order  of 
27th  of  July,  1812,  be  observed — that  no  officer  leave 
the  city  without  a  furlough  for  a  time  exceeding 
twelve  hours  ;  that  each  officer  on  receipt  of  this 
(order  of  June  4,  1813),  notify  the  adjutant  of  the 
regiment  where  orders  for  him  may  be  left. 

On  same  day  (June  4th)  Gen.  Gerard  Steddiford, 
of  the  tenth  brigade  of  militia  infantry,  by  order 
designated  as  such  rendezvous  for  his  brigade,  the 
ground  at  the  arsenal  near  the  battery  on  the  east 


226  RENDEZ  VO  US  IN 

side  of  Broadway,  from  Bowling  Green  extending 
up  Broadway. 

Gen.  Steddiford's  brigade  was  composed  of  the 
75th  regiment  (Col.  Jasper  Ward),  85th  (Col.  Ed 
ward  W.  Laight),  97th  (Major  Clarksoii  Crolius), 
106th  (Col.  Jacob  Delamontagnie),  115th  (Col. 
Beekmaii  M.  Van  Beuren).  They  were  not  so  well 
disciplined  and  armed  and  equipped  for  active  duty 
as  was  the  third  brigade. 

Commandants  of  infantry  regiments  were  di 
rected  to  order  their  men  to  provide  themselves 
with  a  good  musket  or  firelock,  and  a  knapsack,  a 
pouch  with  a  box  therein  to  contain  not  less  than 
twenty-four  cartridges  suited  to  the  bore  of  the 
musket  or  firelock,  each  cartridge  to  contain  a 
proper  quantity  of  powder  and  ball ;  and  that  they 
appear  so  armed  and  equipped  at  the  next  parade. 

The  order  continued  as  follows  :  "  The  com 
mandant,  with  much  pleasure,  informs  the  offi 
cers  of  his  brigade  that  great  reliance  is  placed  in 
the  patriotism  and  usefulness  of  the  infantry  by  the 
commander-in-chief  and  by  Major-General  Stevens, 
under  whose  command  the  State  troops  of  the 
southern  district  are  placed." 

The  first  brigade  of  artillery,  under  command  of 
Gen.  Morton,  consisted  of  the  second  regiment,  com 
manded  by  Lieut. -Col.  Peter  Curtenius,  the  third 
regiment,  commanded  by  Lieut. -Col.  Martin  Boerum, 
of  Brooklyn :  the  ninth  regiment,  commanded  by 
Lieut. -Col.  John  Bleecker;  the  eleventh  regiment, 
commanded  by  Lieut. -Col.  Cornelius  Harsen.  The 
artillery  of  Brooklyn  were  attached  to  the  third 
regiment  of  artillery. 

The  artillery  was  to  rendezvous  at  the  battery 


THE  CITY  DESIGNATED.  227 

parade.  The  veteran  corps  of  artillery,  by  order  of 
their  commander,  Capt.  John  McLean,  were  to 
rendezvous  near  the  State  arsenal  in  Elm  Street. 

The  commanders  respectively  of  the  fifteenth, 
twenty- second  and  thirty-third  brigades  (ante,  pp. 
86,  8T),  ordered  the  commandants  of  their  regiments 
to  fix  upon  places  of  rendezvous  for  their  respective 
regiments,  and  notify  the  brigade  commanders. 

All  these  orders  were  strictly  put  in  force  and  an 
appeal  was  made  to  the  men  that  it  was  for  the 
purpose  of  protecting  their  homes  and  their  coun 
try  that  these  measures  should  be  obeyed. 

The  comprehensive  military  orders  affecting  the 
entire  enrolled  militia  in  New  York  city  and 
vicinity  caused  much  discussion  and  feeling. 

The  seeming  trivial  action  of  a  militia  captain 
arose  to  the  importance  of  a  brigade  court  martial 
in  which  much  personal  and  local  feeling  was  dis 
played. 

The  offence  consisted  in  a  captain  issuing  the 
following  order  : 

"142d  EEGIMENT,  THIRD  BRIGADE  OF  INFANTRY. 
"  COMPANY  ORDERS. 

"NEW  YORK,  June  10,  1812. 
* i  Sir: — The  United  States  being  involved  in  war, 
whether  just  and  necessary  we,  as  citizens,  have  a 
right  to  judge  and  to  express  that  judgment  with 
out  fear  or  molestation.  But  while  we  enjoy  these 
rights,  we  are  bound  to  render  obedience  to  the  laws 
of  our  country,  and  to  support  the  government,  at 
the  same  time  that  we  condemn  the  administration 
for  their  weakness  and  folly  in  plunging  us  unpre 
pared  into  this  Quixotic  war.  From  the  support 


228  POLITICAL  MILITARY  ORDER. 

hitherto  afforded  the  general  government  by  its  citi 
zens,  we  have  a  right  to  claim  of  them,  and  they  are 
bound  to  give  us,  protection.  In  consequence  of  the 
misconduct  of  our  rulers,  this  protection  has  not 
been  afforded  us,  and  we  are  now  called  to  protect 
ourselves,  painful  as  the  duty  may  be.  I  hope  and 
trust  that  every  citizen  under  my  command,  will 
sacrifice  with  me  on  the  altar  of  patriotism  every 
feeling  inconsistent  with  a  full  co-operation  with  the 
rest  of  our  fellow  citizens;  and  when  the  enemy 
shall  approach,  to  rally  around  the  standard  of  our 
country,  and  in  defence  of  our  liberties,  our  homes, 
and  our  firesides,  be  ready  and  willing  to  lay  down 
our  lives  at  the  threshold  of  our  country. 

"  You  are,  therefore,  in  pursuance  of  regimental 
orders,  directed  to  provide  yourself  without  delay 
with  a  good  musket  or  firelock,  a  sufficient  bayonet 
and  belt,  two  spare  flints,  a  knapsack,  a  pouch  with 
a  box  therein  to  contain  not  less  than  twenty-four 
cartridges  suited  to  the  bore  of  the  musket  or  fire 
lock,  and  to  contain  a  proper  quantity  of  powder 
and  ball,  and  that  you  appear  so  armed,  accoutred 
and  provided  at, the  next  parade.  And  in  case  of 
invasion  or  alarm  to  assemble  thus  armed  and 
equipped  at  the  regimental  rendezvous  in  East  Rut 
gers  Street,  opposite  the  church. 

"  By  order  of 

"  WILLIAM  HAWLEY,  Captain. 

"  WILLIAM  MCVEAGH,  Sergeant. 

"N.B.  The  fines  for  deficiencies  will  be  rigidly 
enforced." 

The  commander   of   the  142d  regiment,   Lieut.- 


MILITARY  PARADE  GROUND.  229 

Col.  Jonas  Mapes,  preferred  the  following  charges 
against  Capt.  Hawley. 

"  For  unofficerlike  conduct  in  endeavoring  to  ex 
cite  dissension  and  insubordination  among  the  mem 
bers  under  his  command,  by  issuing  the  order  on 
iOth  of  June  to  the  company  under  his  command." 

A  regimental  court  martial  was  ordered,  com 
posed  of  militia  officers,  to  try  Capt.  Hawley  on 
that  charge. 

There  was  a  military  hospital  erected  near  Fort 
Gansevoort,  about  on  a  line  with  Washington 
Street,  between  Gansevoort  and  West  Eleventh 
Streets.  The  plot  of  ground  between  Bank  Street 
and  Gansevoort  Street,  from  Greenwich  Street  to 
Hudson  River,  was  unoccupied  and  was  prepared  for 
a  public  parade  ground.  There  were  also  soldiers' 
barracks  and  other  military  conveniences.  It  was 
a  portion  of  Bayard's  farm. 

Washington  Street,  as  then  laid  out,  then  termin 
ated  at  Bank  Street.  Greenwich  Eoad  and  Lane 
were  the  principal  means  of  access  to  it.  This 
place  was  designated  at  that  time  as  being  Green 
wich. 

On  the  19th  of  June  the  third  brigade  of  infantry 
militia  under  command  of  Gen.  Bogardus,  composed 
of  142d  regiment,  Mapes;  125th  regiment,  com 
manded  by  Dodge;  10th  regiment,  Anderson;  51st 
regiment,  Van  Hook;  82d  regiment,  Strong;  par 
aded  at  the  public  parade  ground  at  Greenwich,  and 
were  reviewed  by  Major- General  Ebenezer  Stevens. 
The  men  were  called  out  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing  and  were  kept  under  arms  until  between  seven 
and  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  They  were  about 
3,000  strong  and  presented  a  fine  appearance  in 


230  MILITIA  SHAM  FIGHT. 

their  gay  uniforms.  The  day  was  unusually  warm 
and  the  men  were  unaccustomed  to  so  long  opera 
tions  in  the  field;  they  bore  the  fatigue  of  the  day 
with  cheerfulness  and  spirit.  A  sham  fight  was 
one  of  the  features  of  the  occasion.  Much  enthu 
siasm  prevailed.  No  serious  accident  occurred  ex 
cept  when,  in  the  sham  fight,  one  of  the  men  in  the 
bayonet  charge  pressed  rather  too  close  upon  the 
supposed  enemy,  and  ran  his  bayonet  through  the 
leg  of  a  soldier.  Major- General  Stevens  and  his 
staff  made  a  fine  appearance  in  their  uniforms  of 
buff  and  blue,  and  cocked  hats  and  tall  feathers. 
General  Bogardus  and  his  officers  presented  a  more 
dashing  appearance. 

There  was  a  large  number  of  spectators  present 
during  the  day,  when  we  consider  the  distance 
from  the  populous  portions  of  the  city  and  the 
limited  means  of  conveyance  then  in  use.  The 
open  sewer  in  Canal  Street  could  only  be  crossed  at 
Broadway  on  a  bridge  or  east  of  that  point.  A 
large  portion  of  the  population  at  that  time  was 
east  of  Broadway  and  below  Houston  Street. 

A  court  martial  convened  at  Washington  Hall,  on 
July  1st,  for  the  trial  of  Capt.  Wm.  Hawley  pursu 
ant  to  order  of  23d  of  June  by  Brig. -Gen.  Robert 
Bogardus.  The  court  was  composed  of  Lieut.  -Col. 
Isaac  A.  Van  Hook,  president,  from  51st  regiment; 
Capts.  Tucker  and  Robert  Hyslop,  and  Lieut.  W.  H. 
Maxwell,  of  the  10th  regiment ;  Major  Mount  and 
Capt.  Seixas,  of  the  51st  regiment ;  Major  Todd  and 
Capt.  G.  Wilson,  of  the  82d  regiment ;  Major  Joseph 
D.  Fay  and  Capts.  Graham  and  Garniss,  of  the 
125th  regiment ;  Capts.  Nicoll  and  John  Anthon,  of 
the  142d  regiment. 


MILITIA  COURT  MARTIAL.  231 

Capt.  Woodruff,  of  the  125th  regiment,  and 
Lieuts.  Robert  Emmet  and  Jud.  Hammond,  of  the 
82d  regiment,  attended  as  supernumeraries. 

Samuel  Jones,  Jr. ,  and  George  Brinkerhoff,  Esq. , 
as  counsel  for  Capt.  Hawley.  Hugh  Maxwell, 
Esq.,  was  appointed  Judge  Advocate. 

The  following  officers  were  then  sworn  and  took 
their  seats :  Lieut.  -Col.  J.  A.  Van  Hook,  president, 
Capts.  Wilson,  Seixas,  Nicoll,  Anthon,  Garniss, 
and  Woodruff,  and  Lieuts.  Maxwell  and  Ham 
mond. 

The  other  officers,  being  Majors  Mount  and  Todd, 
and  Capts.  Tucker,  Hyslop  and  Graham,  and  Lieut. 
Emmet,  having  made  up  their  minds  and  expressed 
their  opinions  upon  the  question  to  be  tried,  were 
for  that  cause  challenged  by  Capt.  Hawley  and 
were  held  disqualified  and  discharged ;  Maj.  Fay 
was  absent.  Capt.  Anthon  objected  to  himself  on 
the  ground  of  having  advised  with  the  prisoner 
upon  the  charge  brought  against  him  before  he  was 
named  as  a  member  of  the  court. 

The  charge  was  read  to  Capt.  Hawley  and  he 
pleaded  not  guilty.  The  order  was  produced  and 
being  admitted  by  Capt.  Hawley,  no  evidence  was 
produced.  The  court  then  adjourned  to  the  8th  of 
July  when  Major  Fay  appeared,  was  sworn  and 
took  his  seat.  To  this  Capt.  Hawley  objected.  Mr. 
Brinkerhoff  then  orally  addressed  the  court  and 
was  followed  by  Mr.  Jones.  The  Judge  Advocate 
closed  the  argument  on  the  part  of  the  prosecution, 
after  which  a  written  defence  and  argument,  pre 
pared  by  Capt.  Hawley,  was  delivered  to  the  court, 
but  was  returned  in  consequence  of  his  having  been 
heard  by  counsel.  It  was  only  an  amplification 


232  TRIAL  OF  CAPT.  HAW  LET. 

of  the  reasons  in  the  order.  The  court  after  a 
short  deliberation  made  up  a  judgment  of  acquittal 
and  submitted  the  proceedings  to  Brig.  -Gen.  Bogar- 
dus  for  confirmation. 

On  the  23d  of  July  General  Bogardus  promul 
gated  the  order  disapproving  of  the  proceedings  of 
said  court  and  reversing  the  sentence  of  not  guilty. 

In  considering  the  proceedings  the  General  dis 
cussed  the  question  of  whether  Capt.  Anthon  was 
qualified  to  act  as  a  member  of  the  court.  He  de 
cided  that  he  was  not  qualified,  because  it  was  de 
priving  the  prisoner  of  the  professional  services  of 
Capt.  Anthon  and  also  deprived  Capt.  Anthon 
of  advocating  the  cause  of  his  client.  To  the 
qualification  of  Major  Fay  to  act  as  a  member  of 
the  court  the  General  decided  that  he  was  not, 
because  by  the  State  law  a  court  martial  is  to  con 
sist  of  thirteen  members,  nine  of  whom  to  form 
a  quorum.  The  law  also  proposed  a  heavy  fine  for 
non-attendance  on  the  first  day  of  the  court.  In 
addition  to  this  the  term  "  organized,"  which  the 
court  declares  itself  to  be  and  proceeding  in  the 
matter  before  them,  had  virtually  deprived  Major 
Fay  from  his  seat  in  consequence  of  non-attendance 
on  the  first  day;  the  court  had  not  the  power  after 
ward  to  receive  him,  and  therefore  he  was  illegally 
admitted  to  a  seat  as  a  member. 

He  held  that  the]written  defence  should  have  been 
received. 

The  general  said  he  "felt  great  delicacy  in  ex 
pressing  an  opinion  upon  the  acquittal  or  finding  of 
the  court,  but  as  the  law  had  made  it  a  duty,  he 
feels  the  necessity  of  foregoing  matters  which  affect 
only  himself.  As  the  ground  upon  which  the  court 


TRIAL  OF  CAPT.  HA  WLET.  233 

gave  judgment  does^not  appear  upon  the  proceed 
ings,  it  becomes  merely  matter  of  inference,  and 
must  have  arisen  upon  one  of  the  following  suppo 
sitions: 

"  1.  That  the  order  is  not  a  legal  offence,  for 
which  the  law  has  provided  or  the  prisoner  incurred 
a  penalty;  or 

"  2.  That  there  is  no  offence  in  issuing  such  an 
order." 

The  general  said  :  "It  will  not  be  contended  that 
military  usage  does  not  form  a  part  of  the  system 
by  which  military  matters  and  military  persons  are 
to  be  judged.  This  usage  has  established  many 
acts  as  offences  which  are  not  declared  to  be  such 
by  any  statutory  law.  That  hundreds  of  instances 
might  be  adduced  of  acts  which  would  be  high  mili 
tary  offences,  and  to  leave  which  without  punish 
ment,  would  totally  destroy  all  discipline,  and  yet 
no  statute  has  declared  them  to  be  offences  or  pro 
vided  a  punishment  for  them. 

"That  in  his  opinion  the  order  does  contain  a 
military  offence. 

"  1.  Because  it  was  calculated  to  introduce  political' 
discussion  between  the  captain  and  the  privates  of 
his  company,  and  thus  to  lessen  the  distance  and  to 
diminish  the  respect  which  ought  to  exist  between 
them. 

"2.  Because  it  was  impeaching  and  impugning 
the  motives  and  conduct  of  the  general  government, 
which,  in  a  junior  officer,  not  having  a  separate 
command,  could  not  have  been  necessary  as  an  act 
of  discretion,  and  was  not  authorized  by  the  author 
ity  of  the  State  or  of  his  superior  officers. 

"3.     Because    orders  like  those  issued  by    the 


234:  REPORT  ABOUT 

prisoner  would  inevitably  lead  to  dissension,  and 
insubordination,  inasmuch  as  they  invite  discus 
sion,  and  would  cause  quarrels  among  men. 

"That  nothing  justificatory  having  been  shown 
in  evidence,  the  Brigade  General  thinks  the  charge 
was  fully  sustained." 

EEGIMENTAL  ORDER. 

"In  promulgating  the  preceding  brigade  orders, 
the  commandant  directs  that  as  the  court  martial 
ordered  for  the  trial  of  Capt.  Hawley  is  not  there 
by  dissolved,  nor  he  discharged  from  arrest,  those 
concerned  govern  themselves  accordingly. 

"JOHN  I.  SICKLES, 
"Adjutant,  142d  Regiment." 

There  is  no  account  of  how  the  matter  was  after 
ward  disposed  of.  In  the  excitement  of  the  time, 
it  is  probable  that  the  effect  of  the  order  was  mis 
construed. 

In  July,  Gen.  Bogardus  resigned  his  command  of 
the  third  brigade  of  militia  to  accept  the  command 
as  colonel  of  a  volunteer  regiment  which  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  as  the 
forty-first  United  States  infantry,  under  act  of  July 
5,  1813. 

Jonas  Mapes,  of  the  142d  regiment,  was  promoted 
to  brigadier- general  by  brevet  on  September  10th, 
1813,  and  received  full  appointment  in  March,  1814. 

The  committee  appointed  to  present  the  petition 
of  the  corporation  of  New  York  to  Congress,  and 
praying  for  further  protection  against  the  enemy 
reported  "that  very  soon  after  their  appointment 
they  proceeded  with  the  petition  to  the  seat  of  the 


AID  FROM  CONGRESS.  235 

general  government,  and  previous  to  presenting  it 
they  lost  no  opportunity  of  conversing  on  the  subject 
with  such  of  the  members  of  Congress  as  they  thought 
might  be  induced  to  aid  your  committee  in  their  ap 
plication.  The  petition  on  being  presented  to  the 
senate  and  house  of  representatives  was  by  each  re 
ferred  to  the  committee  on  military  affairs.  The  sen 
ate  being  occupied  with  executive  business,  its  com 
mittee  was  unable  to  pay  immediate  attention  to  the 
petition,  but  that  of  the  other  house  was  specially 
convened,  before  whom  your  committee  attended  (on 
being  invited),  and  represented  to  them  the  exposed 
and  almost  defenceless  situation  of  the  port  of  New 
York,  and  urged  among  other  things  the  necessity 
of  granting  a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  garrison 
the  different  fortifications  erected  for  its  defence, 
and  the  danger  of  depending  on  militia  for  that 
service,  and  it  was  with  no  small  satisfaction  your 
committee  perceived  the  petition  treated  with  that 
prompt  attention  due  to  its  importance.  On  ac 
count  of  the  petition  being  addressed  to  Congress 
and  for  various  other  reasons,  your  committee  were 
advised  to  make  no  direct  application  to  the  head  of 
the  war  department,  who,  it  was  presumed,  from 
the  situation  he  lately  held,  could  stand  in  no  need 
of  further  information  on  the  subject.*  Your  com 
mittee  feel  it  a  pleasure  as  well  as  a  duty  to  state 
that  every  possible  assistance  was  afforded  them  in 
relation  to  the  object  of  their  mission  by  several 
gentlemen  of  Congress  and  particularly  by  Mr.  Eu- 
fus  King  and  Gen.  German  (members  of  the  senate 
for  New  York  State)  and  Judge  Egbert  Benson  and 

*  General  John  Armstrong  was  commander  at  New  York   at 
the  time  of  his  appointment  as  Secretary  of  War  in  January. 


236  U.  S.  MARSHAL  APPOINTED. 

Mr.  Jotham  Post,  of  the  house  of  representatives, 
who  manifested  a  deep  interest  for  its  success  and 
to  whom  they  are  principally  indebted  for  the 
prompt  attention  paid  to  the  subject  and  for  being 
enabled  to  return  so  speedily.  From  what  trans 
pired  during  the  time  your  committee  remained  at 
Washington,  and  from  the  proceedings  which  have 
since  taken  place,  they  are  not  without  hope  that 
the  object  of  their  mission  will  be  in  some  degree 
realized." 

The  above  report  was  made  on   July  12th,  to  the 
common  council. 

I""1:' About  the  end  of  July  it  was  announced  that 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Peter  Curtenius,  who  had  been 
United  States  marshal  in  New  York  city  since  May 
5,  1806,  was  removed  by  the  authorities  at  Wash 
ington,  and  John  Smith,  formerly  United  States 
senator  from  1804:  to  1813,  was  appointed  his  suc 
cessor.  Mr.  Smith  took  possession  of  the  office  on 
July  29th  and  held  it  until  after  the  peace.  The 
district  then  comprised  the  entire  State  of  New 
York. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Celebrating  4th  of  July — Troubles  in  Tammany — Political  Par 
ty  Feeling  displayed — Grand  Processions — Eloquent  Orations 
— Dinners  and  Feasts — Amusements  of  the  Day  and  Eve 
ning — Incidents — Display  of  Fireworks  at  Vauxhall  Garden, 
etc. — An  Enemy's  Funeral. 


'HE  incursions  of  the  British  and  their  In 
dian  allies  in  the  northwest,  and  the 
frequent  practices  of  their  peculiar 
mode  of  warfare  had  rendered  any 
allusion  to  the  Indians  extremely  dis 
agreeable.  This  was  destined  to  have 
a  very  important  local  effect  in  New 
York  city. 

In  reference  to  this  matter  the  Evening  Post,  a 
Federal  paper,  said  : 

a  The  4th  of  July  is  approaching,  when  it  is  cus 
tomary  for  the  Tammany  and  some  other  societies 
in  this  city  to  wear  buck  tails  in  their  hats,  dress 
themselves  like  savages  and  imitate  the  manners 
of  the  red  men  of  the  woods.  These  exhibitions, 
at  all  times  ridiculous  and  absurd,  will,  after  the 
cruelties  which  have  been  committed  by  the  Tam 
many  men  of  the  wilderness  be  little  short  of  crimi 
nal." 

Soon  after  the  anniversary  meeting  of  the  Tam 
many  Society  on  May  12thit  was  proposed  in  a  se 
cret  meeting  that  all  their  imitations  of  the  Indians 


238  TROUBLES  IN  TAMMANY. 


in  dress  and  manners,  as  well  as  in  name,  should  be 
abolished  and  the  officers  of  the  society  be  designated 
by  plain  English  names.  There  was  strong  oppo 
sition  to  this  by  many  ;  while  the  reformers  were 
firm  in  their  logical  conclusions  that  under  the  cir 
cumstances  it  was  not  only  impolitic  and  improper 
to  retain  the  Indian  costume  on  their  annual  pa 
rade  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  as  had  been  done  before 
these  savage  atrocities  in  the  war,  but  it  showed  a 
lack  of  feeling  that  was  inconsistent  with  the  politi 
cal  standing  which  the  Tammany  Society  had  taken 
in  the  war  in  support  of  the  government.  The 
founder  of  the  society,  William  Mooney,  was  still 
its  grand  sachem  and  he  would  not  listen  to  any 
change.  The  feeling  was  so  strong  that  he  re 
signed,  as  also  did  many  of  the  thirteen  sachems 
and  other  officers  of  the  society. 

At  this  time  the  officers  of  the  Tammany  So 
ciety  or  Columbian  Order,  Great  Wigwam  No.  1  of 
the  State  of  New  York  and  of  the  United  States, 
as  it  was  called,  were  as  follows  : 

William  Mooney,  Grand  Sachem ;  William  T. 
Waldron,  Treasurer  ;  Henry  Howard,  Secretary  ; 
James  W.  Todd,  Sagamore. 

The  Council  of  Sachems  were  : 
Peter  Embury,  Father  of  the  Council  and  Sachem 

of  the  New  York  or  Eagle  tribe. 
John  P.  Haff.  Sachem  of  the  New  Hampshire  or 

Otter  Tribe. 
Alpheus  Sherman,  Sachem  of  the  Massachusetts  or 

Panther  Tribe. 

J.  H.  Bogart,  Sachem  of  the  Khode  Island  or  Beav 
er  Tribe. 


TRO  UBLES  IN  TAMMANY.  239 

Wm.  Peterson,  Sachem  of  the  Connecticut  or  Bear 

Tribe. 

Stephen  Allen,  Sachem  of  the  New  Jersey  or  Tor 
toise  Tribe. 
Reuben  Munson,  Sachem  of   the  Pennsylvania  or 

the  Eattlesnake  Tribe. 
Garret  Sickles,  Sachem  of  the  Delaware  or  Tiger 

Tribe. 
Lawrence  Myers,  Sachem  of  the  Maryland  or  Fox 

Tribe. 
Ithamar  Osborn,    Sachem  of  the  Virginia  or  Deer 

Tribe. 
Clarkson  Crolius,  Sachem  of  the  North  Carolina 

or  Buffalo  Tribe. 
Robert  Dodge,  Sachem  of  the  South  Carolina  or 

Racoon  Tribe. 
Oliver    Drake,    Sachem   of    the  Georgia  or  Wolf 

Tribe. 

William  Mayell,  Scribe  to  the  Council. 
Isacher  Cozzens,  Senior  Wiskinskie. 

The  Great  Spirit  of  public  opinion  had  told  them 
that  they  must  no  more  dress  in  the  fantastic  garb 
of  the  redmen  of  the  West,  that  their  bows  and 
arrows  and  their  tomahawks  must  be  laid  aside, 
and  they  must  dress  as  became  their  actions — like 
civilized  men. 

This  command  they  dared  not  obey  lest  evil  be 
fall  them.  A  notice  was  published  that  an  extra 
meeting  of  Tammany  Society  would  be  held  on 
May  17th  for  the  purpose  of  electing  sachems  in 
place  of  those  declining  to  serve.  This  meeting  was 
held,  arid  new  sachems  in  favor  of  the  reforms  in 
dress  were  elected.  They  proceeded  to  elect  the 
grand  sachem  and  such  of  the  other  chief  officers 


240  TROUBLES  IN  TAMMANY. 

as  were  necessary.  The  inauguration  of  the  grand 
sachem  elect  took  place  on  May  3Ist.  The  notice 
to  members  was  signed  "  by  order  of  the  Father, 
John  White,  Scribe  of  the  Council."* 

The  trouble  in  Tammany  grew  out  of  the  mode  of 
celebrating  the  coming  4th  of  July,  but  the  public 
did  not  know  how  or  what  had  been  determined  on 
by  the  society,  as  all  its  deliberations  and  discussions 
were  kept  a  profound  secret,  known  only  to  those  in 
the  society. 

In  alluding  to  this  change  in  the  Tammany  Soci 
ety,  the  Evening  Post  said: 

"  We  understand  that  the  late  conduct  of  the  In 
dians  on  our  frontier  has  been  such  as  to  have  in 
duced  their  red  brethren  of  this  city  to  come  to  a 
determination  to  dissolve  the  connection  between 
them.  The  accounts  of  the  very  ill  behavior  of  the 
great  chief  Walk-in-the-water  are  so  bad  that  his 
near  namesake  here,  Water  Lot,^  has  come  to  a  for 
mal  determination,  of  which  he  gave  notice  at  the 
last  meeting,  to  abjure  the  society  unless  they 
would  immediately  express  their  decided  disappro 
bation  of  the  British  allies,  by  discarding  the  custom 
of  painting  and  wearing  bear  skins  on  the  4th  of 
July,  and  also  of  carrying  papooses  on  their  backs, 
which  has  so  often  proved  fatal  to  the  dear  little 
infants." 

A  general  public  meeting  of  citizens  was  called 
in  May,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  a  general  com 
mittee  of  arrangements  for  the  celebration  of  the 

*  The  writer  has  been  unable  to  ascertain  the  names  of  all  those 
that  resigned,  or  those  who  were  elected  .to  fill  the  vacancies. 
If  they  are  ascertained  by  the  writer  they  will  be  stated  in  his 
account  of  the  celebration  of  the  4th  of  July,  1814.  j 

t  Alluding-  to  the  new  grand  sachem. 


TAMMANY  ORDERS  241 

4th  of  July.  A  committee  was  chosen,  and  George 
Harsin,  Jr.,  was  its  secretary.  He  published  a  no 
tice  that  all  societies  and  organizations  that  desired 
to  take  part  in  the  general  celebration  of  the  4th  of 
July,  should  hand  their  names  to  him  at  Tammany 
Hall.  This  notice  was  continued  for  a  long  time, 
and  but  few  societies  or  organizations  signified  a 
willingness  to  take  part  in  the  procession  which 
they  believed  would  be  led  by  Tammany  in  the 
manner  usual  for  them  on  that  occasion.  Many  of 
the  societies  held  meetings  for  the  purpose  of  dis 
cussing  and  arranging  for  the  celebration.  But 
none  of  them  had  come  out  boldly  and  refused  to 
march  in  a  procession  with  Tammany. 

In  order  to  help  the  matter,  the  following  notice 
was  published  on  June  30th. 

"  TAMMANY  SOCIETY  OR  COLUMBIAN  ORDER." 

"  Arrangements  for  celebrating  the  37th  anni 
versary  of  our  National  Independence  on  the  5th  of 
July  instant,  the  fourth  being  on  Sunday: 

"The  national  standard  will  be  hoisted  on  the  hall 
at  sunrise. 

"  The  members  will  assemble  at  the  hall  at  8 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  the  society  will  be 
formed,  after  which  the  Declaration  of  Independ 
ence  will  be  read,  as  by  the  law  prescribed. 

"3.  At  nine  o'clock,  the  society  will  proceed  in 
order  to  join  the  general  procession. 

"4  The  ceremonies  of  the  day  being  over,  and 
the  society  having  been  dismissed  by  the  Grand 
Marshal,  will  return  to  the  hall,  where  a  dinner 
will  be  provided  by<  brothers  Martling  &  Cozzens, 
to  be  on  the  table  at  half -past  3  o'clock  P-M.  precise- 


242  INDIAN  COSTUME  ABOLISHED. 

ly,  and  to  which  our  republican  *  friends  generally 
are  invited. 

' f  By  order  of  the  Society, 

H.  WESTERVELT,  Secretary. 

UN.  B. — The  members  will  be  furnished  with 
badges  on  the  morning  of  the  meeting." 

The  above  notice  was  published  in  the  editorial 
columns  of  The  National  Advocate  with  the  follow 
ing:  "N.  B. — Members  will  be  furnished  with 
badges  to  be  worn  on  the  occasion  at  the  society's 
rooms  as  provided  under  the  new  arrangements." 

Of  this  the  Evening  Post  said  : 

* '  The  notification  that  the  Tammany  Society  are 
about  to  abandon  their  savage  habits,  and  intend 
to  celebrate  the  day  with  decency  and  decorum  gives 
us  pleasure. 

"From  the  '  N.  B.'  it  also  appears  that  the 
dresses  and  badges  are  also  to  undergo  a  change. 
We  hope  under  the  new  regulation,  the  use  of  the 
ridiculous  cars  loaded  with  ferocious  animals, 
Indian  canoes,  etc.,  will  be  laid  aside." 

The  two  great  Federal  societies,  the  Washington 
Benevolent  and  the  Hamilton,  on  the  1  st  of  July, 
published  notices  of  how,  when  and  where  the  mem 
bers  of  these  societies  were  to  celebrate  the  4th  of 
July,  independent  of  any  other  organization  or  body 
of  citizens. 

This  awakened  Tammany  Society  and  their 
friends,  so  on  the  2d  of  July  the  societies  which  were 
willing  to  be  headed  by  Tammany  in  its  reformed 
dress,  announced  their  programme  of  arrangements. 

*  The  administration  party  called  themselves  Republicans,  the 
Federalists  called  them  Democrats. 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  PEOPLE.  243 

It  was  preceded  by  an  address  and  invitation  to  all 
to  participate  in  the  procession  and  ceremonies. 

The  address  called  attention  to  the  great  event  that 
all  Americans  should  rejoice  to  celebrate,  and  con 
cluded  as  follows  : 

' '  Let  us  now  celebrate  this  anniversary  of  our  in 
dependence  with  the  cheerfulness  of  hope  ;  let  the 
feelings  of  party  be  forgotten  amid  the  acclamation 
of  a  grateful  people  ;  let  the  aged  achievers  of  our 
independence  set  the  example  of  unanimity ;  let 
the  youthful  supporters  of  that  independence  be  an 
imated  thereby,  and  while  they  join  in  the  rejoicings 
of  the  day.  and  influenced  by  the  sacred  considera 
tions  of  ensuing  honor  and  independence,  may  they 
swear  devotedly  to  the  cause  of  their  country."  • 

After  the  address  was  named  the  societies  who 
were  already  designated  to  be  in  the  procession  of 
which  Tammany  was  at  the  head,  and  it  was  signed 
Geo.  Harsin,  Jr.,  Secretary. 

On  the  2d  of  July  the  common  council  com 
mittee  appointed  to  make  arrangements  to  cele 
brate  the  thirty-seventh  anniversary  of  American 
Independence  reported  that  the  celebration  take 
place  on  Monday,  July  5th,  as  the  4th  happened 
on  Sunday  ;  that  the  flag  be  hoisted  at  the  Battery 
at  sunrise  and  that  a  national  salute  be  fired  at 
sunrise  and  at  noon  ;  that  the  bells  of  the  different 
churches  be  rung  for  half  an  hour  at  sunrise  and  at 
noon  and  at  sunset  ;  that  the  vessels  in  the  harbor 
be  requested  to  wear  the  flags  at  masthead  during 
the  day. 

No  appropriation  was  made  to  defray  expenses 
for  any  other  mode  of  celebrating  it. 


244  MILITARY  ORDERS. 

The  5th  was  the  day  that  all  was  to  celebrate. 
The  following  military  order  was  issued  and  pub 
lished  on  the  3d  of  July  : 

"  FIRST  BRIGADE,  N.  Y.  S.  ARTILLERY. 

NEW  YORK,  29^  June,  1813. 

1  i  In  pursuance  of  division  orders  of  28th  inst., 
the  second,  eleventh,  and  part  of  the  third  regi 
ments,  stationed  in  this  city  and  vicinity,  and  a 
detachment  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  from  the 
ninth  regiment,  to  be  formed  into  three  companies 
under  the  command  of  Captains  Kingsland, 
Dunscomb  and  Muir,  the  senior  of  them  will  com 
mand  the  detachment,  will  parade  in  full  uniform 
on  the  Battery  on  Monday  next,  the  5th  July,  at 
half  past  seven  o'clock  A.M. 

"  Col.  Curtenius  will  direct  the  national  flag   to 
be  hoisted  at  the  Battery  at  sunrise,  and  will  fire 
the  requisite  salutes  in  honor  of  the  day.     Ammuni 
tion  will  be  furnished  on  the  ground. 
"  By  order 

"BRIG. -GEN.  MORTON. 
"I.  VANDERBILT,  Aid-de-camp. " 

Gen.  Morton's  brigade  of  artillery  and  Major 
Warner's  squadron  of  horse  paraded  early  in  the 
morning,  completely  equipped,  and  took  up  their 
line  of  march  through  the  principal  streets  to  the 
battery  parade,  where  a  feu  de  joie  was  fired  from 
field  pieces  and  they  were  dismissed. 

From  the  published  notices  it  was  apparent  that 
the  Tammany  procession  was  trying  to  be  the  most 
popular  of  any. 


TAMMANY  LEADS.  245 

At  the  different  places  of  the  meeting  of  each 
society  that  were  to  follow  tin  their  wake  the  na 
tional  flag  was  hoisted  at  sunrise. 

At  9  o'clock  these  societies  assembled  in  Nassau 
Street,  opposite  the  Brick  church,  where  citizen 
James  Corvin,  the  Grand  Marshal  for  the  day,  as 
sisted  by  his  aids,  arranged  the  societies  in  the  fol 
lowing  order  : 

1.  Tammany  or  Columbian  Order. 

2.  Taylor's  Society. 

3.  Hibernian  Provident  Society. 

The  flag  of  the  United  States  and  those  of  the 
societies  accompanied  by  a  band  of  music,  followed 
by  an  allegorical  figure  representing  the  Genius  of 
America  with  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and 
on  her  right  the  reader  of  the  declaration  of  inde 
pendence,  and  on  her  left  the  reader  of  Washing 
ton's  farewell  address,  the  whole  were  flanked  by 
the  blue  banners  representing  the  different  socie 
ties.* 

4:.  Columbian  Society. 

5.  Cordwainers'  Society. 

6.  George  Clinton  Society. 

7.  Military  officers  off  duty. 

8.  Veteran  Corps  of  Artillery  in  uniform. 

At  10  o'clock  the  procession,  headed  by  the  Grand 
Marshal  and  his  aids,  proceeded  down  Beekman 
Street  to  Pearl  and  up  to  Chatham  and  the  Bowery 
to  Hester  Street  to  the  Presbyterian  church  on 
Elizabeth  Street.  The  van  of  the  procession  having 
arrived  the  whole  was  then  opened  to  the  right  and 
left  facing  inwards. 

*  The  banner  of  each  society  was  blue  with  the  name  of  the 
society  and  some  figure,  emblem  or  device  on  each  side  of  it. 


246  PROCEEDINGS,  ORATION,  ETC. 

The  grand  marshal,  accompanied  by  his  aids,  pro 
ceeded  down  the  line  and  met  the  Genius  of  Amer 
ica,  etc. ,  and  conducted  the  whole  up  the  line  to  the 
church  door.  The  military  and  societies  entered 
in  reversed  order  and  were  conducted  to  the  places 
assigned  them. 

The  order  of  exercises  of  the  day  at  the  church 
were  : 

1.  An  address  to  the  throne  of  Grace  by  the  Kev. 
John  McNeice. 

2.  Music  by  the  band. 

3.  Reading    Declaration    of    American   Indepen 
dence  by  Mr.  Peter  W.  Gale,  from  the  George  Clin 
ton  Society. 

4.  Music  by  the  band. 

5.  Reading    Washington's  Farewell  Address  by 
Wm.  H.  Bunn,  from  the  Columbian  Society. 

6.  Music  and  collection. 

7.  Oration  by  John  Rodman,  Esq.,  appointed  by 
the  Cordwainers'  Society. 

8.  Music. 

9.  Concluding  prayer  by  Rev.  John  McNeice. 

On  retiring  from  the  church  the  societies  pro 
ceeded  from  the  church  along  Hester  Street,  to 
Broadway,  down  to  City  Hall  Park  and  along  the 
park  to  the  place  of  meeting  on  Nassau  Street. 
The  societies  then  formed  a  hollow  square  and 
faced  inward,  the  national  flag,  the  Genius  of 
America,  band  of  music,  etc.,  in  the  center.  'The 
band  of  music  then  played  a  few  appropriate  tunes, 


*  Rev,  John  McNeice  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  "  First  Pres 
byterian   Church,"    which   was  then   located    in  Orange     near 
Grand   Street.     It   was  subsequently  removed  to  Canal  Street 
and  was  called  Canal  Street  Church. 


TAMMANY  HUMBLE.  247 

after  which,  by  a  signal  from  the  grand  marshal, 
nine  cheers  were  given,  and  the  whole  were  dis 
missed. 

Each  society  then  returned  to  its  place  of  meeting. 

The  members  of  Tammany  wore  none  of  their 
former  badges  or  buck-tails  in  their  hats.  The 
badge  worn  was  only  for  that  particular  occasion. 
At  the  head  of  the  society  was  what  they  called 
the  "  grand  standard  of  their  order,"  being  a  large 
banner  of  blue  with  the  coat-of-arms  of  the  United 
States  painted  upon  it  on  one  side,  and  on  the  other 
the  Cap  of  Liberty  surrounded  by  stars.  The 
Genius  of  America,  which  they  had  in  the  proces 
sion,  was  one  of  their  figures  superbly  dressed  as  a 
goddess  on  a  stage  or  platform.  These  were  the 
only  emblems  of  their  former  glory  that  graced  the 
occasion. 

Their  numbers  were  few  in  the  procession,  but 
they  wore  a  determined  look  and  manner. 

The  entire  procession  contained  less  than  half 
the  number  of  that  of  the  Washington  Benevolent 
and  Hamilton  societies. 

The  Evening  Post  said  of  them  : 

"  The  Tammany  Society  walked  in  procession  yes 
terday,  but  with  reduced  numbers.  There  was  very 
little  of  the  savage  displayed  in  their  costume  or 
manners,  and  our  hopes  for  their  conversion  to 
Christianity  are  increased.  In  the  place  of  the  dis 
gusting  car  which  has  heretofore  disgraced  their 
procession,  a  standard  was  carried  which  bore  the 
inscription  '  Free  Trade  and  Sailors'  Rights.'  To 
this  we  would  have  no  objection  provided  they 
would  insert  the  word  ( American '  and  let  it  read 
'  American  Sailors'  Rights'." 


24:8  THE  VETERAN  CORPS. 


The  "  disgusting  car  "  to  which  the  Evening  Post 
referred,  carried  the  figures  of  Tammany,  dressed 
as  an  Indian  chief,  Columbus  and  the  Genius  of 
America,  and  many  other  emblems  representative 
of  the  Indians. 

The  ranks  of  the  Columbian  Society  were  re 
markably  thin.  The  editor  of  the  National  Advo 
cate  said  it  was  probably  because  so  many  of  its 
members  were  in  service  in  defence  of  their  coun 
try. 

The  only  military  body  that  took  part  in  either  of 
the  civil  processions  of  the  day  was  the  veteran 
corps  of  artillery. 

They  were  assembled  for  the  Tammany  procession 
by  the  following  authority  : 

' '  The  Veteran  Corps  of  A  rtillery  are  hereby  request 
ed  to  assemble  in  complete  uniform  near  the  arsenal 
(in  Elm  Street)  at  10  o'clock  A.M.,  on  the  5th  of  July 
next,  to  commemorate  with  their  brethren  in  arms 
the  bright  birthday  of  American  independence. 
And  they  are  likewise  requested  to  appear  with 
badges  of  mourning  on  their  swords  as  a  tribute  of 
respectful  sorrow  for  our  departed  young  heroes, 
PIKE  and  LAWRENCE,  who  gloriously  fell  maintain 
ing  their  country's  rights. 

JOHN  MCLEAN,  Captain." 

The  veteran  corps  of  artillery  was  an  association 
of  veterans  who  had  actually  been  soldiers  in  the 
revolutionary  war.  They  paraded  before  the  war 
on  every  4th  of  July  morning,  and  marched  to 
the  battery  with  drum  and  fife,  and  fired  a  national 
salute  at  daybreak  from  the  heaviest  pieces  of  field 
artillery  at  that  time  in  use.  They  usually  wore  on 


ME.  RODMAN'S  ORATION.  249 

parade,  a  sword  with  shoulder  belt  and  a  revolution 
ary  cockade  with  '76  in  gilt  on  it,  and  a  blue  feather 
with  red  top  on  the  side  of  an  ordinary  hat. 

When  there  became  a  prospect  for  actual  service 
after  the  declaration  of  war,  a  new  uniform  was 
provided.  It  was  a  navy  blue  coat  and  pantaloons, 
white  vest,  black  stock,  black  hat  and  a  black 
feather  with  red  top,  cockade,  bootees  and  side  arms, 
yellow  mounted. 

The  address  of  Mr.  Rodman  contained  some  po 
litical  partisan  allusions,  but  it  abounded  with 
•warm,  hearty  patriotism  and  glowing  eloquence.* 

Among  other  things,  he  said  : 

"The  gleam  of  liberty  which  broke  upon  man 
kind  at  the  period  of  the  French  revolution  has 
passed  away,  without  conveying  one  cheering  ray 
of  consolation  to  enslaved  Europe.  Against  that 
noble  and  virtuous  struggle  of  a  whole  nation  to 
assert  and  establish  their  liberties,  England  was 
foremost  in  opposition.  By  continuing  the  war 
against  France,  she  has  contributed  to  raise  upon 
the  throne  of  the  Bourbons,  an  abler  head  and  a 
more  vigorous  arm  than  ever  before  swayed  the 
Gallic  sceptre.  England  must,  therefore,  expect  to 
pay  the  forfeit  of  her  crimes — she  was  the  first 
enemy  of  liberty,  she  may  be  the  last  victim  of 
despotism. 

#•  #  '  #  #  4?  # 

"  Let  us  then  rally  around  our  government,  sup 
port  the  friends  of  the  constitution  and  of  inde 
pendence,  indignantly  frown  upon  every  attempt  to 

*  He  was  a  prominent  lawyer  of  that  day  and  a  member  of 
Tammany.  He  delivered  the  anniversary  address  before  that 
society  on  May  12th  previous. 


250  TAMMANY  DINNER. 

dismember  the  Union,  or  to  truckle  to  the  enemy. 
We  fight  under  the  banner  of  the  Union  of  the 
States,  the  freedom  of  the  seas,  the  independence  of 
our  country.  Here  let  us  take  our  stand,  firm  on 
this  rock  erect  the  citadel  of  our  liberties,  and 
though  the  storms  of  faction  beat  against  its  front, 
though  treason  attempt  to  sap  its  foundation, 
though  the  enemy  assail  its  portals,  we  shall  glo 
riously  triumph,  avenge  our  wrongs,  secure  our 
rights,  and  save  our  country." 

At  the  hour  appointed  in  the  notice  (see  ante, 
p.  241)  Tammany  Society  sat  down  to  the  dinner  in 
the  hall. 

After  the  cloth  was  removed,  the  following 
toasts  were  drank,  being  interspered  with  songs  and 
speeches : 

"  1.  The  Day  we  Celebrate.  May  each  return  find 
us  free,  sovereign  and  independent."  Three 
cheers. 

"  2.  The  War.  Just  and  righteous.  May  it  be 
continued  until  its  objects  are  attained."  Six 
cheers. 

"3.  Our  Army — rising  in  energy  as  it  improves 
in  discipline."  Three  cheers. 

' ( 4.  Our  Navy.  Untarnished  by  the  loss  of  the 
Chesapeake :  the  trophies  of  her  bravery  still  pro 
claim  her  relative  superiority."  Six  cheers. 

"5.  James  Madison,  President  of  the  United 
States.  A  true  patriot  whose  object  is  the  liberty, 
independence  and  honor  of  his  country,  not  the 
lucre  of  gain  or  a  personal  aggrandizement."  Nine 
cheers. 

"  6.  Elbridge  Gerry,  Vice-President  of  the  United 


TAMMANY  DIN  NEE.  251 


States.  The  honest,  able  and  decided  Republican.'' 
Six  cheers. 

"'7.  The  present  Congress.  May  energy  in  coun 
cil  go  hand  in  hand  with  energy  on  the  ocean  and 
in  the  field." 

"  8.  The  Union  of  the  States — the  source  of  pros 
perity  in  peace  and  strength  in  war."  Three 
cheers. 

"9.  Our  sister  States,  Kentucky  and  Ohio; 
brave  and  patriotic,  they  stand  first  in  our  second 
war  for  independence."*  Six  cheers. 

"10.  Our  sister  State,  Massachusetts  ;  she  once 
was  what  Kentucky  and  Ohio  now  are." 

"11.  The  memory  of  the  departed  hero  and  dis 
ciplinarian,  General  Pike."  Drank  standing. 

"12.  Lawrence  and  his  brave  companions,  who 
fell  fighting  for  the  rights  of  their  country  ;  their 
heroism  was  not  only  felt,  but  reverenced  by  our 
enemies.  May  we  ever  cherish  it."  Drank  standing. 

"13.  Sailors'  Rights  and  Free  Trade.  May 
they  never  be  surrendered  while  there  is  a  shot  in 
the  locker."  Nine  cheers. 

"14.  Our  gunboats.  They  will  long  be  remem 
bered  by  the  Union,  who  has  had  a  touch  of  the 
gunboat  system.  Commodore  Cassin  ranks  among 
our  naval  heroes."  Six  cheers. 


*  The  world  is  indebted  to  Gov.  Meigs,  of  Ohio,  for  the  origin 
of  the  popular  phrase  of  calling  this  "the  second  war  for 
national  independence."  In  his  address  to  the  legislature  of 
Ohio  on  January  9,  1813,  occurred  the  following  : 

"  The  declaration  of  war  is  but  a  practical  renewal  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  in  which  celebrated  performance 
is  contained  a  recital  of  many  of  these  acts  of  injustice  and 
oppression,  which  caused  its  adoption,  and  of  which  the  nation 
again  has  reason  to  complain,  and  of  which  a  sense  of  duty 
urges  to  oppose  with  all  the  forces  in  the  Union." 


252  TAMMANY  DINNER. 


"  15.  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  and  John  Taylor,  gov 
ernor  and  lieutenant-governor  of  the  State  of  New 
York."  Six  cheers. 

"  16.  Commodore  Chauncey,  the  hero  of  the 
lakes  ;  success  attend  him."  Nine  cheers. 

"  IT.  The  surviving  officers  and  crew  of  the  Chesa 
peake.  May  they  speedily  be  delivered  from  prison 
and  have  an  opportunity  of  avenging  honorably 
their  unfortunate  defeat."  Six  cheers. 

"18.  The  fair  daughters  of  Columbia ;  none  but 
the  brave  deserve  their  smiles."  Three  cheers. 


VOLUNTEER    TOASTS. 

By  the  President— 

"  The  brave  defenders  of  Hampton  and  Craney 
Island.  May  the  spirit  of  Washington,  their  im 
mortal  countryman,  inspire  and  lead  them  on  to 
victory  over  the  mercenary  invaders  of  our  soil." 

By  the  treasurer,— 

' '  American  valor,  brave  in  contest,  humane  after 
victory.  The  murders  after  the  capture  of  the 
Chesapeake,  by  the  defenders  of  our  religion  proves 
a  striking  contrast." 

By  a  brother— 

"Hull,  Jones,  Decatur  and  Bainbridge.  We 
want  no  better  republicans." 

By  a  brother — 

"George  Washington,  the  father  of  his  country. 
His  motto  was  '  the  union  of  the  States. '  The  di 
rect  opposite  to  modern  Federalism  combined  with 
unprincipled  office  hunters." 

By  a  brother — 

"Gen.  Pike  and  Capt.  Lawrence.  They  are  not  dead. 


WASHINGTON  SOCIETY  PROCESSION.  253 

They  have  only  changed  their  earthly  abode  to  be 
come  our  guardian  angels  in  heaven. " 

By  a  brother,  after  the  orator  had  retired— 
"  John  Rodman,  the  able  orator  of  the  day" 
The   Washington    Benevolent   Society  took    the 
lead   of   the  other   celebration,    and  the  Hamilton 
Society  joined  with   them.     The  members   of  the 
Washington  Benevolent  Society  assembled  at  the 
College    Green  at  ten   o'clock,    each  wearing  his 
badge  of  membership  as  previously  arranged,  and 
the  procession  formed  at   half  past  ten  ;  at  eleven 
o'clock  the  Hamilton  joined  them. 

The  members  of  the  Hamilton  Society  assembled 
at  the  College  Green  at  10:30  o'clock  and  moved  at 
11  o'clock  and  joined  the  Washington  Society. 

The  whole  procession  then  moved  in  the  follow 
ing  order : 

Volunteer  Escort. 

Marshal  of  the  day  and  his  three  aids. 
A  full-length  likeness  (figure)  of  Hamilton  on  a 
stage  surrounded  by  drapery  and  drawn  by 

horses. 
Hamilton  band  of  music. 

A  Deputy  Marshal. 
Hamilton  Society  in  the  following  order  : 

Volunteer  Escort. 

Marshal  of  the  day  and  his  three  aids. 

Grand  Marshal  of  the  Hamilton  Society. 

Committee   of  arrangements,    flanked  on  the  right 

by  banner,  bearing  date  Nov.  25th,  1783. 

Banner  of   Independence,    flanked  on  the  right  by 

banner  bearing  date  26th  July,  1788  (the  date  ^ 

of    the  adoption  of    the  Federal 

constitution  by  the  State. 


254:  WASHINGTON  SOCIETY  PROCESSION. 

The  society  in  eight  divisions  between  which  were 
borne  the  banners  of  the  society  in  the  following 
order  : 

Trumbull,  Ames,  Wayne. 

Full-length  portrait   of  Hamilton  on  a  stage   plat 
form,  surrounded  by  drapery  and  drawn 
by  horses. 

Lincoln,   Lawrence,*  Washington,  flanked    on  the 
left   by   banner   of  Monmouth. 

Grand  Standard  of  the  Society,  flanked  on  right  by 
banner  of  Yorktown. 

Standing   committee  and    officers    of   the  Society, 

flanked    on  the   right  by    first   vice-president, 

president ;  on  the  left  by  second  vice-president. 

The  Banner  of  Independence,  flanked  by  two  smaller 

banners   and   supported    by  military  and 

naval  characters  of  the  Revolution. 

The  Washington  Society,  four  abreast,  in  fourteen 
divisions,  each  preceded  by  a  banner  in 
scribed  as  follows,  respectively : 


Hancock. 
McDougall. 
Putnam. 
Schuyler. 
DeKalb. 
Knox. 
Greene. 

'    Washington 
Band 
"             of 
Music. 

'  Warren. 
Wooster. 
Mercer. 
•<  Montgomery. 
1  Steuben. 
1  Lingan.f 
L  Hamilton. 

*  The  banner  inscribed  with  the  name  of  Lawrence  was 
dressed  in  mourning  out  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  then 
recently  departed  hero.  The  members  of  the  Society  each  wore 
a  badge  of  mourning  for  Capt.  Lawrence. 

fThe  banner  inscribed  with  the  name  of  Lingan,who  was  killed 
by^the  mob  in  Baltimore  in  the  attack  on  the  Federal  Republi- 


WASHINGTON  SOCIETY  PROCESSION.  255 

The  Washington  standard  flanked  by  two  others, 
borne  and  supported  as  the  banner  of  in 
dependence. 

Captain  Isaac  Van  Wart,  one  of  the  captors  of  Major 
Andre,  bearing  a  standard    emblem 
atic  of  that  event.* 

Full-length  likeness  (figure)  of  Washington  on    a 

platform  (drawn  by  horses),  surrounded  by 

drapery,   and  surmounted  with   a  gilt 

eagle  holding  in  his  beak  a  scroll 

with  the   words    "The  father 

of  his  country." 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements. 

Standing  committees  and  officers  of  the  Washington 

Benevolent  Society. 

Hon.  Gouverneur  Morris,  orator  of  the  day,  in  his 
carriage. 

President  of  the  day,  flanked  on  the  right  by  first 
vice-president  with  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  his  left  by  the  second 
vice-president  with  the  Declar 
ation  of  Independence. 

Escort. 

The  line  of  march  was  up  Robinson  Street  (now 
Park  Place)  to  Broadway,  down  around  the  end  of 

can  office  on  June  22,  1812,  was  carried  by  a  Mr.  Thompson, who 
was  one  of  the  party  who  was  attacked  by  the  mob  at  that 
time  because  of  their  opposition  to  the  war.  See  toast  to  his 
memory.  Post,  p.  259,  ninth  toast. 

*  At  that  time  Captain  Isaac  VanWart  resided  at  18  Anthony 
Street  and  had  a  blacksmith  shop  there.  He  was  then  54  years 
old.  He  died  in  1828. 


256  WASHINGTON  SOCIETY  CELEBRATION. 

the  Park  to  Chatham  Street  (now  Park  Bow),  and 
up  to  Pearl  Street  and  up  Pearl  to  Broadway  and 
down  Broadway  to  Washington  Hall  on  north 
east  corner  of  Reade  Street.  There  the  line  halted 
and  opened  to  the  right  and  left,  facing  inward,  and 
then  marched  from  the  rear  of  the  procession 
through  the  line.  This  brought  the  officers  of  the 
Washington  Society  to  the  front.  As  the  officers 
of  the  Washington  Society  passed  the  two  bands 
of  music  they  were  silently  saluted  by  them.  After 
they  had  passed,  the  officers  of  the  Hamilton  fell  in 
the  rear  of  those  of  the  Washington,  and  entered 
the  Hall  followed  by  the  member  of  the  Washing 
ton  and  those  by  the  members  of  the  Hamilton. 

The  Washington  and  Hamilton  standards  were 
placed  upon  the  stage.  The  officers  of  the  Wash 
ington,  excepting  those  on  the  stage,  were  seated 
on  the  left  of  the  stage,  and  those  of  the  Hamilton 
at  the  right  of  the  stage.  The  other  banners  were 
distributed  in  other  parts  of  the  hall. 

All  the  military  in  the  procession  appeared  in  full 
uniform. 

There  were  assembled  nearly  three  thousand 
ladies  and  gentlemen  to  listen  to  the  proceedings 
which  were  commenced  with  prayer  by  Eev.  Dr. 
John  Mason,  of  the  Murray  Street  church  (llth 
Presbyterian).  After  this  a  piece  of  martial  music 
by  the  military  band,  then  an  ode  set  to  music  and 
adapted  to  the  occasion  was  sung  ;  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  was  read,  then  music  by  the  mili 
tary  band,  then  the  oration  by  Hon.  Gouverneur 
Morris,  then  Yankee  Doodle  by  the  Washington 
and  Hamilton  bands  together.  Then  they  were 
dismissed  and  were  disbanded. 


MB.   MORRIS'    OBAT10N. 


The  oration  was  decidedly  a  Federal  one  in  poli 
tics.  The  Evening  Post,  a  strong  Federal  journal 
of  that  day,  said  of  it  : 

"  This  oration  was  such  a  one  as  might  be  ex 
pected  from  so  distinguished  an  orator,  patriot,  and 
statesman  as  Mr.  Morris,  and  therefore  requires  no 
description  from  us." 

One  passage  in  his  address  was  : 

"  Shall  I  trespass  on  your  patience,  fellow  citizens, 
to  prove  the  duty  of  defending  our  country  ?  God 
forbid.  I  will  not  insult  your  understanding  nor 
wound  your  feelings.  What  !  prove  to  Americans 
—  who  glory  in  the  name  of  Washington,  and  that, 
too,  on  the  4th  of  July  —  that  it  is  their  duty  to  de 
fend  their  country  ?  As  well  attempt  to  prove  that 
they  see  the  sun  or  breathe  the  air  or  feel  the  pulsa 
tion  of  their  own  honest  hearts.  " 


After  discussing  the  alleged  causes  of  the  war  and 
the  policy  and  effect  of  its  conduct  he  said  : 

' '  I  will  not,  fellow  citizens,  trace  the  ills  we  suf 
fer  up  to  their  source.  That  is  an  object  of  legis 
lative  wisdom.  If  attempted  here,  we  might  be 
charged  with  hostility  to  the  Union.  For,  strange 
as  it  must  seem,  it  is  nevertheless  true,  that  those 
who  inculcate  principles  inconsistent  with  all  social 
union,  charge  the  opponents  of  their  disorganizing 
principles  with  an  intention  to  separate  the  Eastern 
from  the  Southern  States.  That  the  course  pursued 
for  some  time  past,  will,  if  persisted  in,  occasion 
that  separation,  there  can  be  little  doubt  ;  but  he 
who  spent  the  flower  of  his  youth  and  the  strength 


258  WASHINGTON  SOCIETY  DINNhR. 

of  his  manhood  in  laboring  to  promote  and  confirm 
the  American  Union,  can  never,  but  in  the  last 
necessity,  recommend  its  dissolution.* 

"Federalists  are  too  proud  of  the  name  they  bear, 
to  view  unmoved  the  danger  to  which  our  Federal 
compact  is  exposed.  The  followers  of  Washington 
cannot  wish  to  pluck  a  star  from  the  constellation 
of  his  glory." 

At  four  o'clock  a  large  company  of  gentlemen  of 
the  Washington  Benevolent  Society  sat  down  to 
the  dinner  provided  by  Mr.  D.  W.  Crocker,  the 
keeper  of  Washington  Hall.  After  dinner  the  fol 
lowing  toasts  were  drank  : 

1.  "  The  day  we  celebrate.     May  the  independence 
extorted  from  Britain  never  be  sacrificed  to  the  in 
trigues  of  any  ambitious  tyrant. 

2.  "  The  memory  of  George  Washington,  the  father 
of  his  country — Even  he  did  not  die  soon  enough 
to  escape  the  attacks  of  malignant  Jacobinism. 

3.  "  The  constitution  of  the  United  States.     The 
rock  on  which  the  Federal  party  stands. 

4.  "The  Navy  of   the   United  States.     The  first 
born  of  Federalism  ;  but  now  claimed  as  the  favor 
ite   of    democracy.     May    its    laurels    survive    the 
blighting  fondness  of  its  stepmother. 

5.  "The  minority  in  Congress.     The  sentinels  of 
freedom. 

6.  "The  departed  heroes  of  the  Revolution.   *  Spir 
its  of  the  brave,  we  love  to  venerate  thy  memory. 

7.  "The   memory    of  Alexander  Hamilton.     His 

*  Mr.  Morris  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  in 
1777  and  signed  the  Articles  of  Confederation  and  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  convention  that  framed  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  and  signed  that  document. 


WASHINGTON  SOCIETY  DINNER.  259 

wisdom  is  recorded  in  the  prosperity  of  his  country 
— his  integrity  in  the  calumny  of  its  enemies. 
8.   "  The  memory  of  the  brave  Laivrence. 

Fame  shall  rehearse  in  future  times, 
And  Fame  shall  bear  to  distant  climes 
The  bloody  conflict  on  the  sea, 
The  tale  that  tells  of  death  and  thee. 

9  "  The  name  ofLingan,  the  hero  of  '76. — He  was 
murdered  in  defending  the  liberty 'of  the  press.  We 
will  honor  his  memory  and  his  co-patriots  in  defi 
ance  of  Jacobins  and  assassins.* 

10.  "Liberty.     Though     artfully  forced    into    a 
league  with  the  destroyer  of  human  freedom, 

"  The  sons  of  Columbia  shall  never  be  slaves, 

While  the  earth  bears  a  plant  or  the  sea  rolls  the  waves."" 

11.  "  Commerce.     While  American  measures  ares 
made  to  suit  French  purposes  we  must  long  hope 
for  its  return  in  vain. 

13.  "The  Washington  Benevolent  Society  through 
out  our  country.     The  legacy  of  our  political  fathers 
their    text-book — his    benevolence    and  patriotism 
their  models  of  imitation. 

14.  ' i  TRUTH — lies  at  the  bottom.     May  Mr.  Web 
ster's  well  constructed  political  pump  bring  it  up 
at  last. 

15.  "Alexander  the  deliverer. f 

16.  "The   Christian  world.     May  the  time  soon 
arrive  when  its  conduct  shall  accord  with  its  prin 
ciples  and  the  people  learn  war  no  more. 

17.  "  The  fair  daughters  of  Columbia.     May  they 
always    prove    enemies    to    '  non-intercourse '   and 
friends  to  '  union. ": 

*  See  ante,  p.  254  note. 

f  Referring  to  the  Emperor  of  Russia  and  the  French 


260  OTHER  DINNERS. 


There  were  a  number  of  volunteer  toasts,  but 
they  were  so  ultra  against  the  administration  and 
the  war  that  they  were  not  published  in  the  news 
papers  of  the  day. 

The  following  was  one  of  them  : 

"Madison  Democrats.  If  you  would  see  their 
courage,  go  to  Canada ;  if  you  would  see  their 
mercy,  go  to  Baltimore. " 

The  Hamilton  Society  dined  at  Washington  Hall, 
at  4  P.M.,  but  not  with  the  Washington  Benevolent 
Society. 

The  Hamilton  Society  previously  had  an  oration 
of  their  own  at  Harmony  Hall  on  the  evening  of 
the  1st  of  July. 

Th  >  Columbian  Society,  which  had  previously  in 
vited  all  the  Eepublican  (Democratic)  young  men  of 
the  city  to  dine  with  them  afc  Tammany  Hall  on 
that  occasion,  sat  down  to  a  dinner  provided  at 
Tammany  Hall,  but  had  no  relation  to  Tammany 
Society  dinner. 

The  George  Clinton  Society  dined  at  the  Phoenix 
Coffee  House,  corner  of  Water  Street  and  Coffee 
House  Slip  at  4  o'clock. 

The  Veteran  corps  of  artillery  also  had  a  dinner 
in  the  afternoon. 

The  Hibernian  Provident  Society  dined  at  the 
Union  Hotel. 

The  city  militia  and  many  civic  societies  and  as 
sociations  took  it  upon  themselves  to  celebrate  the 
day  in  their  own  way,  as  was  the  custom  of  the  time, 
and  would  take  110  part  in  either  of  the  processions, 
one  of  which  was  led  by  Tammany  Society  and  the 
other  by  the  Washington  Benevolent  Society. 


SOCIETY  OF  CINCINNATI.  261 

Among  the  prominent  societies  and  associations 
of  that  day  who  did  not  join  either  procession  were 
the  following  : 

Marine  Society,  St.  Andrew's  Society,  German 
Society,  Mechanics'  Society,  St.  Patrick's  Society, 
Manhattan  Provident  Society,  The  Society  of  The 
Cincinnati,  The  Typographical  Society. 

The  members  of  the  common  council  and  their 
invited  guests  partook  of  a  dinner  at  4  P.M.,  which 
was  spread  in  one  of  the  rooms  in  the  basement  of 
City  Hall  in  front. 

The  members  of  the  New  York  State  Society  of 
Cincinnati,  held  their  anniversary  meeting  at  the 
City  Hall  at  12  o'clock  (on  the  5th)  for  transaction 
of  business  and  to  celebrate  the  day.  The  society 
dined  at  the  City  Hotel  at  four  o'clock.  Their  at 
tendance  at  their  business  meeting  was  small.  It 
was  as  follows  : 

Richard  Varick,  president  ;  Ebenezer  Stevens, 
vice-president  ;  Jonas  Addoms,  assistant  treasurer  ; 
Henry  S.  Dodge,  secretary. 

Members  present — Church,  Crosby,  Lawrence, 
Taulman,  Christie,  McKnight,  Tiebout,  Howe, 
Fowler,  Fairlie,  Peiidleton,  Holden,  Strachan,  Wat 
son,  Burrill,  Giles,  Livingston,  Torrey,  Cooper,  Sted- 
diford,  Waterman,  Troup,  Rogers,  Bicker,  Loomis, 
Leay craft,  Deniston. 

The  honorary  members  admitted  on  that  day 
were  :  Stephen  Decatur,  Jacob  Jones,  William  Bain- 
bridge  and  Oliver  H.  Perry.  Capt.  James  Law 
rence  was  to  be  admitted  then,  but  his  previous 
death  rendered  the  action  impossible. 

The  members  still  wore  the  badge  of  mourning 
for  his  death. 


262  OTHER  DINNERS. 


The  Typographical  Society  had  a  dinner  at  two 
o'clock  at  the  Bank  Coffee  House,  then  kept  by 
William  Niblo  on*the  southeast  corner  of  Pine  and 
William  Streets. 

At  the  Military  Hospital  at  Greenwich,  near  Fort 
Gansevoort,  an  address  was  delivered  by  Nathaniel 
Green,  sergeant  of  Capt.  Robert  Gourley's  company 
in  Col.  Hawkins'  regiment  of  volunteers,  then  sta 
tioned  on  Stateii  Island.  After  the  address  a  dinner 
was  had  there  and  toasts  drank. 

The  sergeants  of  the  detachment  of  United  States 
artillery  under  command  of  Lieut. -Col.  House  sta 
tioned  on  Governor's  Island,  assembled  at  Castle 
William,  where  they  partook  of  a  dinner  prepared 
for  the  occasion,  after  which  eighteen  toasts  were 
drank,  showing  a  hearty  sympathy  with  the  ad 
ministration.  Among  them  was  "Perpetual  union 
of  the  United  States.  May  the  head  become  paraly 
tic  that  would  conceive,  and  the  hand  wither,  that 
would  attempt  to  divide  them.'' 

The  Tammany  Society  of  Kings  County  assem 
bled  on  the  5th  at  the  house  of  Alexander  Whaley, 
in  Bushwick,  to  celebrate  the  thirty-seventh  anni 
versary  of  American  Independence,  and  after  the 
usual  ceremonies  of  the  day  partook  of  a  dinner 
and  drank  patriotic  toasts,  which  were  similar  in 
sentiment  to  those  of  their  brethern  in  Wigwam 
No.  1. 

The  army  regulations  of  1813  provided  that  on 
the  4th  of  July  of  each  year  a  national  salute  con 
formable  to  the  number  of  States,  be  fired  at  one 
o'clock  P.M.  from  all  the  military  posts  and  forts  in 
the  United  States,  but  that  they  should  not  be  fired 
from  guns  of  higher  caliber  than  twelve-pounders. 


INDIVIDUAL  CELEB  RATIONS.  263 

This  was  done  by  all  the  forts  in  the  city  and  about 
the  harbor,  independent  of  any  other  salutes  by  the 
militia. 

There  were  ample  means  provided  for  individuals 
to  celebrate  the  day  in  an  independent  way. 

The  common  council  authorized  the  Mayor's 
Marshal  to  give  permits  to  persons  who  wished  to 
erect  temporary  booths  for  the  day  on  the  Battery 
Parade,  in  Bowling  Green,  and  in  City  Hall  Park 
for  the  sale  of  refreshments,  etc. 

These  places  were  filled  with  booths,  and  at  these 
were  sold  principally  liquors,  cakes,  gingerbread, 
boiled  ham,  oysters  in  every  style,  pickled  lobsters, 
clams,  mussels,  roast  pig,  spruce  beer,  lemonade, 
candy,  etc. 

The  breastworks  around  the  Battery  Parade  did 
not  interfere  with  the  usual  summer  entertain 
ments  and  amusements  there,  but  rather  increased 
the  attendance.  The  Battery  promenade,  as  it  was 
called,  which  included  the  building  around  the  flag 
staff,  and  the  walks  and  benches  and  other  neces 
sary  furniture  for  a  summer  garden,  were  under 
the  management  of  Messrs.  Hathaway  and  Marsh, 
who  had  obtained  that  privilege  from  the  city. 

No  advertisement  or  notice  was  given  as  to  any 
particular  entertainment  or  attraction  there  on  that 
day. 

The  proprietors  of  the  garden  then  sometimes 
gave  an  open-air  free  concert  to  those  that  choose 
to  visit  the  promenade  on  the  battery.  In  the  sum 
mer  of  1813  there  were  several  excellent  entertain 
ments  of  this  kind  from  the  portico  of  the  flagstaff 
(see  ante,  p.  53).  The  Pandean  Minstrels  and 


264  POPULAR  ENTERTAINMENTS. 

Moffat's  Military  Band*  were  the  most  notable. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  that  part  of  the  city 
was  the  chief  resort  for  the  multitude  on  that  day, 
and  that  the  usual  amusements  of  the  times  were 
amply  provided  by  the  proprietors.  A  band  of 
music,  and  sending  up  one  or  more  balloons  were 
among  the  day's  free  entertainments.  At  that 
time  when  a  paper  balloon  was  sent  up,  there  was 
a  parachute  attachment,  beneath  which  was  fas 
tened  a  live  cock,  who  made  the  ascension  in  that 
manner,  and  when  the  fire  that  caused  the  balloon 
to  ascend  burnt  off  a  certain  connection  the  para 
chute  with  the  live  cock  in  it  floated  off  in  the  air 
safely  from  the  balloon,  to  take  the  chances  of  ulti 
mately  reaching  land  or  water  without  harm,  f  The 
smoke  and  heat  that  sent  the  balloon  up  was  gener 
ated  by  a  ball  of  lamp  wicking  soaked  in  whale  oil 
and  attached  under  the  balloon  and  set  on  fire. 
It  would  burn  for  several  hours  while  the  balloon 
was  ascending. 

The  firing  of  guns  and  •  small  arms  was  not  in 
dulged  in  by  the  boys  or  other  persons.  The  city 
ordinance  of  May  17th  (ante  p.  214),  against  it  was 
effectual  to  prevent  it.  Chinese  firecrackers  were 
then  unknown  here,  and  the  city  ordinance  did  not 
prohibit  the  burning  of  them. 


*  Moffatt's  full  military  band  at  that  time  comprised  fifes  and 
drums,  two  French  horns,  four  clarionets  and  two  bassoons. 

\  An  entertainment  of  that  kind  took  place  from  a  vacant  lot 
in  the  Bowery  in  'September,  when  the  mammoth  paper  bal 
loon  was  an  oblong-  pear-shaped  body  (similar  to  those  of  the 
present  day)  twelve  feet  in  diameter  and  twenty-two  feet  long 
besides  the  parachute  and  live  cock  attachment.  A  band  of 
music  was  part  of  the  entertainment.  The  price  of  admission 
was  50  cents. 


BALLOON  ASCENSION.  265 

More  select  and  quiet  entertainments  could  be 
had  by  the  people. 

Scudder's  American  Museum,  No.  21  Chatham 
Street  (opposite  (Tryon  Row),  was  open  with  ad 
ditional  attractions. 

The  Panorama  of  Naval  Paintings,  illustrative 
of  the  signal  victories  achieved  by  the  American 
navy  during  the  war,  was  open  next  door  to  the 
Park  Theatre.  They  were  painted  by  Michael 
Corney  in  Boston. 

The  New  York  Circus,  on  Broadway,  corner  of 
White  Street,  gave  two  performances,  one  in  the 
afternoon  at  three,  and  in  the  evening  at  7  o'clock. 
Admission,  box,  $1 ;  pit,  50  conts. 

A  balloon  ascension,  by  means  of  hot  air,  was  ad 
vertised  to  take  place  from  an  enclosed  lot  corner  of 
Rivington  and  Essex  Street,  at  three  o'clock  P.M. 
The  patriotic  aeronaut  (the  proprietor)  was  to 
ascend  and  wave  the  United  States  flag  on  his 
way  to  the  clouds.  The  admission  to  the  grounds 
was  50  cents.  There  is  no  account  of  the  success 
of  the  attempted  ascension,  but  if  it  was  made  the 
aeronaut  lived  through  it,  for  a  few  weeks  after 
wards  he  advertised  that  he  would  make  an  ascen 
sion  in  his  mammoth  balloon. 

Although  the  day  seemed  well  provided  with  en 
tertainments  and  amusements  suited  to  all,  there 
was  one  event  that  probably  gave  more  widefelt 
and  hearty  joy  and  amusement  than  could  have 
been  anticipated.  It  was  the  capture  of  a  dozen 
British  sailors,  and  the  mode  of  it  and  the  marching 
them  as  prisoners  of  war  before  a  multitude  as 
sembled  at  the  Battery  Parade  in  the  afternoon. 

For  some  time  the  British  sloop  Eagle,  tender  to 


266  TRAPPING  THE  ENEMY. 

the  British  Poictiers,  had  been  employed  by  Com. 
Beresford  off  Sandy  Hook  for  the  purpose  of  cap 
turing  fishermen,  and  burning  coasters  near  there. 
There  had  been  many  attempts  to  capture  her  by 
Com.  Lewis  and  his  flotilla  of  gunboats  then  near 
Sandy  Hook  Light  House.  A  ruse  was  planned  to 
effect  this.  On  the  4th  of  July,  the  "  boys  "were 
celebrating  the  day.  Com.  Lewis  sent  out  from 
Mosquito  Cove  a  pilot  boat,  disguised  as  a  fishing 
smack,  named  the  Yankee,  which  was  borrowed 
of  some  fishermen  at  Fly  Market,  New  York,  and  a 
calf  and  a  sheep  and  a  goose  purchased  and  secured 
on  deck  in  plain  sight.  Forty-three  men,  well 
armed  with  muskets  were  concealed  in  the  cabin 
and  fore  deck  of  the  smack.  Thus  prepared  she 
stood  out  to  sea  as  if  going  on  a  fishing  trip  to  the 
banks,  three  men  only  being  on  deck  dressed  in 
fishermen's  apparel,  with  buff  caps  on.  The  Eagle, 
on  seeing  the  smack,  immediately  gave  chase,  and 
after  coming  up  with  her,  and  finding  she  had  live 
stock  on  deck,  ordered  her  to  go  dow^n  to  the 
Poictiers  then  in  sight  of  them.  The  helms 
man  of  the  smack  answered  ; '  aye,  aye,  sir, "  and 
apparently  put  up  the  helm  for  that  purpose,  which 
brought  him  alongside  the  Eagle,  not  more  than 
three  yards  distant.  The  watchword  "Lawrence" 
was  then  given,  when  the  armed  men  rushed  on 
deck  from  their  hiding-places  and  poured  into  her 
a  volley  of  musketry  which  struck  her  crew  with 
dismay,  and  drove  them  all  down  so  precipitately 
into  the  hold  of  the  vessel  that  they  had  not  time  to 
strike  their  colors.  Seeing  the  deck  was  cleaned  of 
the  enemy,  sailing  master  Percival,  who  com 
manded  the  expedition,  ordered  his  men  to  cease 


EVENING  ENTERTAINMENTS.  267 

firing,  upon  which  one  of  the  enemy  came  out  of 
the  hold  and  struck  the  colors  of  the  Eagle.  She 
had  on  board  a  thirty- two-pound  brass  howitzer, 
loaded  with  cannister  shot,  but  so  sudden  was  the 
surprise,  they  had  not  time  to  discharge  it.  The 
crew  of  the  Eagle  consisted  of  H.  Morris,  master's 
mate  of  the  Poicliers,  W.  Price,  midshipman,  and 
eleven  marines.  Mr.  Morris  was  killed,  and  Mr. 
Price  was  mortally  wounded.  The  Eagle,  with  the 
prisoners,  were  brought  up  to  New  York  City  in  the 
afternoon,  and  landed  at  Whitehall  dock  amid  the 
shouts  and  plaudits  of  thousands  of  spectators  as 
sembled  at  the  battery  celebrating  the  anniversary 
of  national  independence. 

Many  of  the  retail  stores  were  open  in  the  after 
noon. 

When  the  ringing  of  tho  bells  of  the  city  for  half 
an  hour  at  sunset  commenced,  there  was  some 
diminution  of  the  crowds  at  the  lower  part  of  the 
city.  Many  had  sought  other  places  provided  for 
the  evening  celebration. 

In  the  early*  evening  the  front  of  Scudder's  Amer 
ican  Museum  was  brilliantly  illuminated.  The 
Pandean  band  of  minstrels  lent  their  harmony  to 
the  occasion  and  played  a  number  of  appropriate 
national  tunes. 

The  front  of  the  Park  Theater  was  illuminated 
by  a  transparent  painting  in  which  Liberty  was 
represented  as  an  allegorical  female  figure  clad  in 
robes  of  yellow — a  globe  was  beneath  her  feet.  In 
one  hand  she  held  the  American  flag  and  was  sup 
posed  to  be  in  the  act  of  planting  it  upon  that  part 
designated  America.  In  the  other  hand  was  an 
olive  branch.  The  flag  formed  the  outer  drapery  of 


268  PLAYS  AT  THE  THEATER. 

the  figure.  Beneath  this  and  over  the  globe  was  a 
white  lily  ;  on  the  left  were  three  boys,  one  of 
whom  was  holding  and  pointing  to  a  book  on  the 
open  leaf  of  which  was  written  "  Declaration  of 
Independence,  July  4th,  1776." 

The  entertainment  of  the  evening  commenced  at 
7:30  by  the  most  patriotic  and  popular  play  of  the 
time,  entitled  "The  Glory  of  Columbia.  Her  Yeo 
manry;  or  What  we  Have  Done  we  Can  Do."  It 
was  founded  upon  the  capture  of  Major  Andre. 
There  were  only  six  characters  in  it.  Gen.  Wash 
ington  was  represented  by  Mr.  Green,  Major  Andre 
by  Mr.  Simpson.  The  captors  of  Andre,  Williams, 
Paulding  and  Van  Wart,  were  represented  by 
Messrs.  Hilson,  Darley  and  Jones  respectively. 
Mrs.  Darley  appeared  as  Honora. 

After  this  play  Mr.  Cooper  delivered  a  monody, 
written  by  a  New  York  gentleman,  on  the  death  of 
Capt.  James  Lawrence. 

This  was  followed  by  a  patriotic  entertainment 
called  "  Freemen  in  Arms;  or  Tribute  to  the  Mem 
ory  of  the  Brave." 

When  the  curtain  arose  it  revealed  a  monument 
in  memory  of  Gen.  Z.  M.  Pike,  who  fell  in  the 
capture  of  York  (Toronto),  on  the  27th  of  April,  1813. 
On  one  side  of  the  monument  was  the  Genius  of 
America  (Miss  Stanley),  weeping  over  the  loss  of 
her  gallant  son  ;  on  the  other  was  the  Goddess  of 
Liberty  (Miss  Ellis),  pointing  to  the  American  eagle 
soaring  above  the  British  flag. 

Mrs.  Claude  sweetly  sang  u  Angels  ever  Bright 
and  Fair." 

The  second  scene  represented  a  naval  procession 
with  appropriate  banners  recording  the  late  victo 


VAUXHALL   GARDEN.  269 


ries  of  our  navy.  This  piece  was  concluded  by  a 
glee  and  chorus  entitled  ' '  Ye  Sons  of  Free  Colum 
bia,"  sung  by  Messrs.  Darley,  Yates,  Pritchard, 
Horton,  Charnock  and  others. 

The  evening's  entertainment  concluded  with  the 
pantomime  of  uDon  Juan.-' 

No  band  attended  the  performance. 
The  attractions  of  Vauxhall  Garden,  on  Bowery 
Lane,  were  many.  The  doors  were  opened  at  four 
o'clock  P.M.  Admission,  50  cents.  Tickets  were 
on  sale  at  G.  &  R.  Waite's  book  and  stationery 
stores,  38  and  64  Maiden  Lane.  The  garden  and 
walks  were  illuminated  by  fixed  lights.  A  ' '  power 
ful  band  executed  some  of  the  most  stirring  and 
popular  patriotic  and  military  airs.''' 

The  principal  parts  of  the  garden  were  arranged 
as  follows:  In  the  large  avenue  and  square,  together 
with  the  two  walks  intersecting  it,  where  the  eques  - 
trian  statue  of  Gen.  Washington  presided,  were 
elegantly  decorated,  and  on  each  side  were  arranged 
emblematical  monuments  bearing  the  names  of 
the  signers  of  our  independence,  and  the  names  of 
each  State  they  represented.  The  monuments 
were  placed  in  order  around  the  statue  of  Washing 
ton,  at  the  feet  of  which  were  three  Genii  offering 
garlands  of  flowers  with  civic  and  military  crowns, 
through  which  were  entwined  the  mottoes :  ' '  Father 
of  his  Country;"  "  Defender  of  Freedom."  The 
center  avenue  of  triple  arcades  was  arranged  as 
forming  a  number  of  triumphal  arches,  each  deco 
rated  in  allegorical  designs  appropriate  to  the  mod 
ern  heroes  of  the  time.  Each  of  the  arches  was 

*  So  announced  in  the  advertisement. 


270  FIREWORKS  AT 


surmounted  by  a  medallion  enclosed  in  a  trophy  of 
large  flags — the  medallions  bearing  the  names  of 
American  naval  heroes,  conspicuous  among  them 
were  Kogers,  Hull,  Jones,  Decatur,  Bainbridge, 
Lawrence  and  Chauncey.  On  the  caps  of  each  col 
umn  were  medallions  noting  the  victories  of  our 
navy  with  the  names  of  the  British  conquered  ships. 
In  the  same  arches  were  medallions  containing  the 
names  of  Dearborn,  Pike,  Harrison,  Van  Rensselaer 
and  Lewis,  with  flags  denoting  the  victories  of 
York  (Toronto),  Fort  George,  Fort  Meigs  and  Sack- 
ett's  Harbor,  the  whole  enclosed  in  trophies  of  flags 
attractively  arranged.  All  of  these  were  richly  il 
luminated  in  the  evening. 

There  was  also  a  grand  display  of  fireworks  in 
the  evening.  In  the  rear  of  the  framework  erected 
for  the  display  of  fireworks  was  an  allegorical  rep 
resentation  of  the  United  States  of  America,  com 
posed  of  eighteen  strong  columns  linked  together  by 
various  festoons,  displayed  the  last  platoon  of  the 
fireworks,  emblematic  of  a  nation's  gratitude,  100 
feet  in  front,  composed  of  ten  monumental  pyra 
mids  each  twenty  feet  high  joined  together  by  laurel 
crowns;  the  base  of  each  column  bore  the  name  of 
departed  heroes.  Between  each  of  the  pyramids 
was  a  large  urn  on  its  pedestal,  burning  with  a 
bright  and  pure  flame,  and  joined  at  the  summits  of 
the  monuments  by  wreaths  of  flowers.  In  the  cen 
ter  was  a  pedestal  on  which  was  an  emblematic 
figure  of  Strength  (the  Constitution),  from  which  all 
the  festoons  originated.  Through  the  space  between 
the  columns  was  seen  a  painting  of  80  feet  front 
representing  an  architectural  avenue  to  the  Temple 
of  Independence  where  were  presiding  the  statues 


VAUXHALL   GARDEN.  271 

of    Liberty,    Mars,  Minerva,    Justice,    and   several 
other  gods  and  goddesses. 

The  center  piece  was  a  large  arcade,  equally  or 
namented  with  the  monuments,  under  which  was 
the  Emblem  of  Immortality,  a  most  elegant  piece 
of  mechanical  fireworks,  in  which  were  noticed 
Valor,  Prudence,  Judgment,  Victory,  Truth,  Jus 
tice  and  other  gods  and  goddesses,  entwined  by  a 
brilliant  glory  of  white  fires  intersecting  and  bind 
ing  the  whole.  The  above  was  supported  by  a 
strong  solid  column,  representing  the  Constitution, 
on  which  the  whole  was  consolidated  and  from 
which  was  the  American  flag  surmounting  the 
whole. 

The  walks,  etc. ,  were  brilliantly  illuminated  in 
the  evening  and  the  allegorical  design  of  a  nation's 
gratitude,  described  above,  was  illuminated  by  all 
kinds  of  fireworks,  wheels,  girandoles,  gerbs,  etc., 
and  brilliantly  ornamented  with  several  thousand 
fire-lights,  the  whole  terminated  by  the  illumina 
tion  of  the  words,  "Freedom,"  "Eights  of  Man," 
"Success  to  America,"  "  Huzza  ! !"  which  appeared 
over  the  whole. 

There  were  no  sky  rockets  set  off  at  any  place, 
probably  because  they  were  then  chiefly  used  as 
signals  in  the  military  and  naval  service. 

There  were  no  fires  reported  as  occurring  on  that 
day,  and  the  populace  were  remarkably  orderly  and 
peaceful,  and  no  harm  or  disorders  arose  from  ex 
cessive  use  of  intoxicating  liquors.  A  remarkable 
day,  truly,  was  that  of  the  celebration  of  the  4th  of 
July,  1813. 

On  July  8th  the  British  midshipman  (William 
Price),  who  had  been  mortally  wounded  at  the  time 


272  AN  ENEMY'S  FUNERAL. 


of  the  capture  of  part  of  the  crew  of  the  Eagle  by 
the  smack  Yankee,  on  the  4th  of  July  as  before 
narrated,  died  at  the  New  York  Hospital.  His  fun 
eral  took  place  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  and  the 
interment  was  in  St.  Paul's  churchyard.  It  was 
accompanied  with  military  honors.  The  procession 
from  the  hospital  down  Broadway  to  the  church 
moved  in  the  following  order  : 

Military  Escort. 
The  Clergy. 

Pall  bearers.  Pall  bearers. 

Mr.  Hall,  )  (  Mr.  Gales, 

Mr.  Bell,  >•  Corpse.    -J  Mr.  Washburn, 

Mr.  Barron,  )  (  Mr.  Baldwin. 

Officers  of  the  United  States  Navy. 

Officers  of  the  United  States  Army. 

Mr.  Barclay  (son  of  the  commissary  for  prisoners- ) 

Between  three  and  four  hundred  citizens,  without 
distinction  of  party,  followed  in  procession.  Lieut. 
Morris,  who  was  killed  at  the  time  of  the  capture, 
was  buried  at  Sandy  Hook  on  the  morning  of  July 
5th  with  military  honors. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

1  Com.  Decatur  Driven  into  New  London  by  Com.  Hardy — Sketch 
of  Com .  Hardy — Gardiner's  Bay  and  Eastern  Part  of  Long 
Island  in  Possession  of  the  Enemy — Torpedo  Warfare — Trap 
ping  the  Enemy — Naval  Affairs — Com.  Hardy's  Threats — 
Joshua  Penny  Taken  by  Him — Enemy  near  the  City  in  Pel- 
ham  Bay — Com.  Lewis  Drives  Them  Back — Enemy  at  Sandy 
Hook  and  Rockaway — Com.  Lewis  After  Them  Again, 


^WHEN  Decatur  sailed  up  the  Sound 
and  approached  the  mouth  of  the 
Thames,  about  June  3d,  he  was  met 
by  the  enemy's  war  vessels,  the 
Valiant,  74  guns,  and  Acasta,  48 
guns,  from  the  blockading  squad, 
ron  under  Sir  Thomas  M.  Hardy, 
consisting  of  his  flagship,  the  Ra- 
millies,  74  guns,  the  Orpheus,  38  guns,  Capt.  Sir 
Hugh  Pigot,  the  Valiant  and  Acasta  and  many 
smaller  vessels  and  launches.  Decatur  deemed  it 
prudent  to  run  in  New  London  Harbor.  He  was 
pursued  by  the  enemy  as  far  as  Gull  Island,  at 
which  point  the  British  vessels  anchored  in  position 
to  command  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  and  thus 
prevented  the  escape  of  Decatur's  vessels. 

Then  commenced  a  close  imprisonment  of  those 
vessels  at  New  London,  which  continued  until  the 
peace  in  Feburary,  1815,  excepting  the  Hornet  y 
which  escaped  in  November,  1814.  The  port  of 
New  London  itself  was  not  yet  blockaded  and 
merchant  vessels  still  arrived  and  departed  as  usual. 
The  British  squadron  in  sight  of  New  London 


274  BLOCKADE  'PROCLAIMED. 

was  soon  strengthened  and  when  Hardy  assumed 
command  of  it  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  it  consisted 
of  three  74' s,  the  Ramillies,  Orpheus,  and  the 
Valiant  and  Acasta,  a  number  of  smaller  vessels, 
launches,  etc.* 

The  first  written  notice  of  the  blockade  of  the 
port  of  New  York  received  here  was  sent  to  the 
Russian  vice-consul  in  the  city  and  published  on 
July  6th.  It  was  as  follows  : 

"  HARLEM,  2d  July,  1813. 

"  Sir  :  Iha^e  the  honor  to  inform  you,  His  Excel 
lency,  the  Eight  Honorable  Sir  John  Borlase  War 
ren,  admiral  and  commander-in- chief  of  His 
Britannic  Majesty's  ships-of-war  on  the  American 
and  West  India  stations,  has  in  obedience  to  the 
orders  of  His  Eoyal  Highness,  the  Prince  Eegent, 
declared  by  proclamation  bearing  date,  the  26th  of 

*  SIR  THOMAS  MASTERMAN  HARDY  was  a  veteran  of  many 
years'  service  in  the  Royal  Navy  in  Europe.  He  and  Admiral 
Sir  George  Cockburn  were  messmates  while  they  were  mid 
shipmen.  He  was  made  a  commander  or  captain  in  1797  for  his 
bravery  in  capturing  the  French  brig-of-war  La  Mutine,  near 
Cadiz.  We  next  find  Capt.  Hardy  accompanying  Lord  Nelson 
in  pursuit  of  the  French  fleet,  which  had  sailed  for  Egypt  in 
1798.  Lord  Nelson  soon  afterward  shifted  his  flag  to  the 
Foudroyant,  and  placed  Hardy  as  its  commander.  He  subse 
quently  served  in  that  position  in  various  vessels.  In  that 
capacity  he  was  at  the  battle  oft'  Copenhagen,  April  2,  1801. 
In  1803  when  Lord  Nelson  was  appointed  chief  in  command  of 
the  Mediterranean  fleet,  Capt.  Hardy's  vessel,  the  Victory,  of  100 
gains,  in  July  was  made  flagship,  and  from  that  time  until  the 
death  of  Lord  Nelson,  Capt.  Hardy  was  his  constant  companion. 
In  August,  1805,  Lord  Nelson  sailed  in  the  Victory  for  the 
Mediterranean  to  attack  the  combined  fleets  of  France  and 
Spain,  where,  in  October,  at  the  battle  of  Trafalgar  Bay,  Lord 
Nelson  was  fatally  wounded  early  in  the  battle  and  died  in 
three  hours  afterward  on  board  the  Victory  in  the  arms  of 
Capt.  Hardy,  but  not  until  he  was  assured  by  Capt.  Hardy  of  a 
victory  over  the  enemy.  Many  affecting  incidents  are  related 
that  occurred  between  Lord  Nelson  and  Capt.  Hardy.  While  the 
battle  was  raging,  Nelson  knew  that  his  death  was  near,  and 
calling  Hardy  to  his  side,  and  after  giving  some  directions  about 


BLOCKADE  PROCLAIMED.  275 

May  last,  the  ports  of  New  York,  Charleston,  Port 
Royal,  Savannah  and  the  River  Mississippi  to  be  in 
a  state  of  strict  and  vigorous  blockade  ;  and  that 
the  blockade  will  be  enforced  by  his  Majesty's 
ships-of-war  in  Long  Island  Sound,  off  Sandy  Hook 
and  elsewhere. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect, 

"  Sir,  your  obedient  and  humble  servant- , 

"  THOMAS  BARCLAY. 
"  To  JOHN  G.  BOGERT,  ESQ., 
Russian  Vice-Consul,  etc." 

He  also  enclosed  a  copy  of  the  proclamation  of 
blockade,  which  was  as  follows  : 

i '  Whereas,  His  Royal  Highness,  the  Prince 
Regent,  hath  caused  his  pleasure  to  be  signified  to 
the  right  honorable,  the  lords,  commissioners  of  the 
admiralty  to  direct  that  I  should  institute  a  strict 

the  fleet,  then  delivered  his  last  injunctions  of  a  private  and 
personal  nature.  Among  others  he  said:  "  Don't  throw  me  over 
board,  Hardy,"  but  requested  that  his  body  be  taken  home  and 
buried,  and  when  he  had  taken  his  faithful  follower  by  the 
hand  to  bid  him  a  final  farewell,  he  said  faintly :  "  Kiss  me, 
Hardy."  Capt.  Hardy  stood  for  a  few  minutes  in  silent  agony 
over  him  he  so  truly  regarded,  and  then  kneeling  down  again 
kissed  his  forehead.  "  Who  is  that,"  said  the  dying  warrior. 
"  It  is  Hardy,  my  lord."  "God  bless  you,  Hardy,"  replied  Nelson 
feebly  and  soon  afterward  breathed  his  last.  Capt.  Hardy  con 
veyed  the  body  of  Nelson  on  board  the  Victory  to  England.  On 
the  day  of  the  burial  of  Lord  Nelson's  body  in  St.  Paul's 
Cathedral  in  London,  in  January,  1806,  Capt.  Hardy  bore  the 
banner  of  emblems  before  the  relatives  of  the  deceased  in  the 
funeral  procession.  In  the  will  of  Lord  Nelson  he  bequeathed  a 
small  legacy  and  all  his  telescopes  to  Capt.  Hardy. 

In  August,  1814,  Capt.  Hardy  had  command  of  the  fleet  that 
bombarded  Stonington,  Conn.,  for  three  days,  which  consisted 
of  the  Rainillies,  74  guns,  Pactolus,  44  guns,  bomb  ship  Terror, 
the  brig  Dispatch,  22  guns,  and  numerous  barges  and  launches, 
with  rocketeers. 

He  had  many  honorary  degrees  conferred  upon  him  from  time 
to  time  by  the  British  government.  He  was  not  made  a  com 
modore  until  1818.  He  died  in  1839.  . 


276  BLOCKADE  PROCLAIMED. 

and  rigorous  blockade  of  the  ports  and  harbors  of 
New  York,  Charleston,  Port  Royal,  Savannah,  and 
of  the  river  Mississippi,  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  maintain  and  enforce  the  same 
according  to  the  usages  of  war  in  similar  cases  ;  and 
likewise  that  the  ministers  of  neutral  powers  should 
be  duly  notified  that  all  measures  authorized  by  the 
law  of  nations  will  be  adopted  and  exercised  with 
respect  to  all  vessels  which  may  attempt  to  violate 
the  said  blockade  ; 

"  I  do,  therefore,  hereby  require  and  direct  you  to 
pay  the  utmost  regard  and  attention  to  His  Royal 
Highness,  the  Prince  Regent's  commands,  as  before 
mentioned,  and  by  every  means  in  your  power  to 
maintain  and  enforce  the  most  strict  and  rigorous 
blockade  of  the  ports  and  harbors  of  New  York, 
Charleston,  Port  Royal,  Savannah,  and  the  river 
Mississippi,  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
accordingly. 

"  Given  under  my  hand,  on  board  His  Majesty's 
ship  San  Domingo,  at  Bermuda,  the  26th  of  May, 
1813. 

"JOHN   BORLASE   WARREN, 

"  Admiral  of  the  Blue  and  commander-in-chief  of  His 
Majesty's  ships  and  vessels  employed  and  to 
be  employed  on  the  American  and  West  India 
stations,  etc." 

Thomas  Barclay,  who  was  formerly  British  con 
sul,  and  resided  at  158  Greenwich  Street,  New  York, 
in  June,  1813,  was  now  the  agent  for  the  British 
government  for  the  exchange  of  prisoners  of  war. 
Some  comment  was  made  upon  the  propriety  of  his 
taking  this  action,  and  also  claiming  that  his  notice 
extended  the  blockade  to  Long  Island  Sound,  while 


BRITISH  NAVAL  FORCES.  277 

the  proclamation  enclosed,  only  included  the  port 
of  New  York,  etc.  But  it  was  soon  acknowledged 
by  Com.  Hardy  that  it  only  included  the  port  of 
New  York  and  its  entry  by  way  of  Long  Island 
Sound,  and  that  none  of  the  ports  or  places  along 
Long  Island  or  the  Connecticut  shore  were  under 
blockade  as  to  the  vessels  of  neutrals — as  for  Amer 
ican  vessels,  they  were  liable  to  capture  at  any  time 
and  place,  as  enemy's  property. 

So  long  as  licensed  American  and  neutral  vessels 
were  allowed  to  export  to  such  places  such  goods  and 
material  as  the  British  license  designated  and  to  im 
port  from  such  places  the  goods  and  materials  the 
British  desired  and  designated,  their  blockading 
vessels  were  mainly  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing 
merchant  vessels  to  comply  with  these  regulations, 
and  the  armed  vessels  of  the  United  States  were  the 
only  vessels  toward  wrhich  any  hostility  was  shewn. 

At  the  end  of  July  the  British  had  on  our  coast 
and  on  the  passage  eighty  vessels  of  war,  besides 
their  forces  in  the  West  Indies,  with  5,000  or  6,000 
land  troops. 

The  British  navy  had  a  total  of  1017  vessels — 258 
ships-of-the-line  (30  from  50  to  74  guns),  240  frigates, 
64  sloops-of-war,  13  bomb  and  fire  ships,  191  brigs, 
42  cutters,  and  65  schooners  and  luggers.* 

The  coast  lines  were  so  much  annoyed  by  the 
British  marauding  vessels,  that  in  March,  1813, 
Congress  passed  a  law  allowing  the  payment  of  the 
value  of  any  English  vessel  blown  up  or  destroyed 
in  any  manner  by  persons  not  in  the  actual  ser- 


*  As  to  the  number  of  men  on  each  vessel,  see  ante  pp.  81  and 

188. 


278  TORPEDO  WARFARE. 

vice  of  the  United  States.*  Thus  the  whole  British 
blockading  squadron  on  our  coast  was  a  subject 
for  private  enterprise.  The  game  was  too  big  and 
tempting  to  ]et  go  without  many  efforts.  This  at 
once  awakened  the  inventive  genius,  as  well  as 
daring  and  cunning,  in  attempts  for  the  destruc 
tion  of  such  vessels.  Torpedoes  were  invented,  and 
arranged  by  various  devices. 

The  torpedoes  in  use  were  those  invented  by  Eobert 
Fulton  for  blowing  up  ships.  It  is  true  that  the 
United  States  government  declined  to  purchase  his 
plan  for  torpedoes,  but  his  system  was  not  con 
demned.  These  torpedoes  consisted  of  a  copper  case 
which  contained  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  pounds 
or  more  of  powder.  To  this  was  fixed  a  gun-flint 
lock  in  a  brass  box,  water  tight,  which  lock  could 
strike  fire  by  several  means.  One  was  by  clock 
work,  which  could  be  set  to  one  or  more  minutes  or 
hours  for  striking  the  fire.  Another  was  for  being 
sunk  at  a  given  depth  under  water  and  a  float,  to 
which  was  attached  a  lever  or  catch  near  the  surface 
of  the  water,  which  when  hit  by  anything  would 
spring  the  lock  and  strike  fire.  Another  was  by 

*The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  law  : 

"AN  ACT  to  encourage  the  destruction  of  the  armed  vessels  of 
war  of  the  enemy. 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled — That 
during  the  present  war  with  Great  Britain  it  shall  be  lawful  for 
any  person  or  persons  to  burn,  sink  or  destroy  any  British 
armed  vessels  of  war  except  vessels  coming  as  cartels  or  flag's  of 
truce  ;  and  for  that  purpose  to  use  torpedoes,  submarine  in 
struments,  or  any  other  destructive  machines  whatever.  And 
a  bounty  of  one-half  the  value  of  the  armed  vessels  so  burnt, 
sunk  or  destroyed,  and  also  one-half  of  the  value  of  her  guns, 
cargo,  tackle  and  apparel  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  treasury  of 
the  United  States  to  such  person  or  persons  who  shall  effect 
the  same  otherwise  than  by  the  armed  or  commissioned  vessels 
of  the  United  States.  Approved  March  3d  1813." 


TRAPPING  THE  ENEMY.  279 

hitching  one  or  more  torpedoes  to  the  middle  of  a 
rope  a  hundred  feet  or  more  ong,  and  having  a  row- 
boat  at  each  end,  drag  the  torpedoes  to  an  enemy's 
vessel  or  under  it  and  either  spring  the  gun-lock  by 
clockwork  or  by  contact  with  the  vessel,  and  thus 
blow  her  up.  There  were  many  similar  contrivances 
for  the  same  purpose,  but  none  of  them  were  actually 
used  in  an  attack. 

Privateers  already  had  a  stimulus  for  the  capture 
of  property  and  prisoners  (ante,  p.  121).  Those  in  the 
regular  naval  service  also  had  bounties  for  prisoners 
(ante,  p.  121).  When  the  ships  and  vessels  and  goods 
on  board  of  an  enemy's  vessel  were  of  equal  or 
superior  force  to  the  vessel  or  vessels  making  the 
capture,  the  prize  belonged  to  the  captors,  and  when 
of  inferior  force  it  was  divided  equally  between  the 
United  States  and  the  officers  and  men  making  the 
capture.  The  law  also  provided  in  what  proportion 
each  officer  and  man  should  share  in  the  prizes. 
Pensions  were  given  to  the  heirs  of  those  killed  in  the 
ocean  service. 

These  inducements  made  the  enemy's  war  vessels 
and  property  much  sought  after  by  the  defenders  of 
American  rights,  and  it  also  made  the  invaders 
somewhat  alert. 

Various  tricks  and  traps  were  resorted  to  and  laid 
to  destroy  British  vessels  that  ventured  too  near  land 
or  in  shallow  waters. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  a  schooner,  called  the  Eagle , 
was  fitted  out  by  John  Scudder,  Jr.,  the  originator 
of  the  plot  to  blow  up  or  bum  some  of  the  British 
vessels.  He  placed  ten  kegs  of  powder,  about  400 
pounds,  with  a  quantity  of  sulphur  mixed  with  it, 
in  a  strong  cask,  and  surrounded  it  with  huge 


280  COM.  HARDY 


stones  and  other  missiles,  which,  in  the  event  of  ex 
plosion,  might  inflict  great  injury.  At  the  head  of 
the  cask,  in  the  inside,  were  fixed  two  gun-locks, 
with  cords  fastened  to  their  triggers  at  one  end, 
and  two  barrels  of  flour  at  the  other  end,  so  that 
when  the  flour  should  be  removed,  the  locks  would 
be  sprung,  the  powder  ignited,  and  the  terrible  mine 
exploded.  Thus  rigged,  she  sailed  up  Long  Island 
Sound  for  New  London ;  on  the  way  she  was  cap 
tured,  as  was  expected  and  desired,  and  armed  men 
sent  out  in  boats  from  the  British  blockading  war 
ship  Ramillies,  commanded  by  Commander  Hardy. 
The  crew  of  the  Eagle  i  ( escaped  "  to  the  shore  at 
Millstone  Point,  and  anxiously  watched  the  result 
of  the  capture.  An  attempt  was  made  by  the  cap 
tors  to  get  the  Eagle  alongside  of  the  Ramillies,  for 
the  purpose  of  transferring  her  cargo  to  the  vessel, 
but  the  wind  having  fallen,  it  could  not  be  done, 
so  boats  were  sent  out  for  the  cargo.  The  hatches 
of  the  Eagle  were  opened,  and  when  the  first  bar 
rel  of  flour  was  removed,  the  explosion  took  place. 
A  column  of  fire  shot  up  into  the  air  (the  inventor 
of  it  said  it  reached  up  nine  hundred  feet)  and  a 
shower  of  pitch  and  tar  fell  upon  the  deck  of  the 
Ramillies.  The  Eagle,  a  British  officer,  and  ten 
men,  were  blown  to  atoms,  and  most  of  those  in 
the  boats  outside  were  seriously  or  fatally  injured. 

The  following  is  an  English  account  of  it. 

"  On  the  25th  of  June,  1813,  a  boat  was  sent  from 
the  Ramillies  to  cut  off  a  schooner  which  was  mak 
ing  for  New  London.  She  was  taken  possession  of 
about  eleven  o'clock,  the  crew  having  deserted  her 
after  letting  go  her  only  anchor.  The  officer  of  the 
boat  brought  the  prize  near  the  Ramillies,  and  in- 


IN  DANGER,  281 


formed  Sir  Thomas  Hardy  that  she  was  laden  with 
provisions  and  naval  stores.  Very  fortunately  for 
the  ship  he  commanded,  Sir  Thomas  ordered  the 
schooner  to  be  taken  alongside  a  trading  sloop  which 
had  been  captured  a  few  days  before;  for  while  they 
were  in  the  act  of  securing  her,  about  half-past  two 
o'clock,  she  blew  up  with  a  tremendous  explosion, 
and  a  lieutenant  (G-eddes)  and  ten  valuable  seamen 
lost  their  lives.  It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that 
this  schooner,  the  Eagle  of  New  York,  was  fitted 
out  by  two  merchants  of  that  place,  induced  by  the 
American  government  offering  half  the  value  of  the 
British  ships-of-war  so  destroyed,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  burning  the  Ramillies,  and  hearing  that 
that  ship  was  short  of  provisions  and  stores,  they 
placed  some  in  the  hatchway  hoping  thereby  to  in 
duce  Sir  Thomas  Hardy  to  take  her  alongside. 
Under  the  provisions  were  deposited  several  casks 
of  gunpowder,  with  trains  leading  to  a  magazine 
which  was  fitted  upon  the  same  mechanical  princi 
ples  as  clockwork.  When  it  had  run  the  time  given 
to  it  by  the  winder-up,  it  gave  force  to  a  sort  of  gun- 
lock.  The  explosion  of  the  vessel  and  the  destruc 
tion  of  all  that  might  be  near  it  was  the  end  pro 
posed." 

Com.  Hardy  sent  a  flag  to  New  London  to  ascer 
tain  whether  the  blowing  up  of  the  Eagle  was  done 
with  the  sanction  of  the  government,  declaring  "if 
it  was  he  would  destroy  everything  American  that 
floats."  Com.  Hardy  also  informed  the  master  of  a 
fishing  smack  that  he  had  lost  nine  men  by  the  ex 
plosion  and  was  determined  to  destroy  all  the  craft 
that  came  in  his  way  until  the  cause  was  explained. 

Although  Commander  Hardy  did  not  execute  his 


282  CO M.  HARDY'S  THREATS. 

threats  he  made  the  blockade  more  rigorous  than 
ever,  and  many  trading  vessels  became  prizes  to  the 
British  cruisers. 

A  fishing  vessel  arrived  at  Salem  with  the  follow 
ing  endorsement  on  her  papers: 

"His  MAJESTY'S  SHIP  La  Houge,  AT  SEA,  JULY  8, 

1813. 

"  I  have  warned  the  fishing  boat  Sally,  of  Barn- 
stable,  immediately  to  proceed  to  her  own  coast,  in 
consequence  of  the  depredations  committed  by  the 
Young  Teazer  and  other  American  privateers  on  the 
British  and  coasting  vessels  belonging  to  Nova 
Scotia,  but  more  particularly  from  the  inhuman  and 
savage  proceedings  of  causing  the  American  schooner 
Eagle  to  be  blown  up  after  she  had  been  taken  pos 
session  of  by  His  Majesty's  ship  Ramillies — an  act 
not  to  be  justified  on  the  most  barbarous  principles 
of  warfare.  I  have  directed  His  Britannic  Majesty's 
cruisers  on  the  coast  to  destroy  every  description  of 
American  vessels  they  may  fall  in  with,  flags  of 
truce  only  excepted. 

"  Given  under  my  hand. 

"  THOMAS  B.  CAPEL,  Capt." 

Many  attempts  to  destroy  vessels  were  made  at 
various  points  along  the  coast.  A  citizen  of  Nor 
wich  invented  a  submarine  boat  in  which  he  could 
voyage  three  miles  an  hour.  In  this  he  went  under 
the  Ramillies,  which  was  frequently  seen  near  New 
York,  and  had  nearly  completed  his  task  of  fixing 
a  torpedo  to  her  bottom  when  his  drill  broke,  he 
was  discovered  and  his  effort  was  foiled,  but  he  es 
caped. 

The  many  attempts  on  the  Ramillies  with  torpe- 


PRISONERS    TAKEN.  283 

does  and  other  contrivances  kept  Com.  Hardy  con 
tinually  on  the  alert.  So  fearful  was  he  of  these 
mines,  that  he  kept  his  ship  in  motion,  but  accord 
ing  to  Penny,  who  was  a  prisoner  on  the  Ramillies 
for  a  while,  he  caused  her  bottom  to  be  swept  with 
a  cable  every  two  hours,  night  and  day,  to  keep  off 
the  "  d — d  Yankee  barnacles."  The  Ramillies  had 
about  six  hundred  men  on  board.  Com.  Hardy,  in 
August,  issued  a  warning  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
coasts  that  if  they  did  not  cease  that  cruel  and  un 
heard  of  warfare,  he  would  proceed  to  destroy  their 
towns  and  desolate  their  country. 

The  taking  of  Mr.  Penny  by  the  British  marines 
and  the  subsequent  correspondence  about  it  was 
written  at  that  time. 

The  following  letter  from  Capt.  John  Fowler,  then 
a  prisoner  of  war  on  board  the  Ramillies  off  New 
London,  dated  August  28,  1813,  was  published, 
stating  the  taking  of  Mr.  Penny,  etc. : 

"  The  following  is  a  list  of  vessels  trading  with  the 
enemy  off  New  London:  August  10,  the  sloop  Fame, 
with  newspapers ;  the  same  day  the  sloop  Betsey 
with  stores.  On  the  21st,  a  sloop  from  Sag  Harbor 
came  to  anchor  a  little  way  from  the  shipping  ;  the 
captain  came  on  board  and  went  on  shore  with  an 
officer  and  showed  the  said  officer  Mr.  Penny's  house, 
and  told  him  Mr.  Penny  was  coming  off  with  a  tor 
pedo  to  blow  up  the  ship  the  first  opportunity.  That 
night  a  boat's  crew,  with  the  first  lieutenant,  went 
on  shore  and  brought  Mr.  Penny  on  board  with  his 
shirt  tore  off  his  back;  he  was  put  in  irons  in  a 
place  where  he  could  see  no  daylight,  on  a  small 
allowance  of  bread  and  water;  he  asked  for  a  little 
salt,  but  it  was  not  allowed  him,  nor  was  he  allowed 


•'284  DEMAND  FOE  RELEASE 

a  book  to  read.  The  above  sloop  left  Sag  Harbor 
on  the  20th. 

"  We  were  often  kept  below,  sometimes  half  a 
day,  when  their  friends  brought  them  supplies, 
•especially  the  Block  Islanders,  so  that  we  might  not 
see  their  faces. 

"The  Ramillies  is  going  to  Halifax,  the  Valiant, 
Orpheus  and  Atalanta,  remain  on  this  station.  They 
have  no  boats,  but  one  launch  to  each  pinnace  and 
cutter  ;  each  launch  carries  a  twelve -pounder;  the 
pinnace  and  cutter  a  brace  of  six-pounders  each. 
Everything  that  is  taken  is  by  the  boats.  Ten  or 
twelve  good  barges  might  take  them  all. 

"  This  day,  August  28th,  a  sloop  from  New  York 
with  soap  and  candles  and  watermelons  came  to 
anchor  under  the  stern  of  the  frigate." 

Major  Case  sent  a  demand  for  the  release  of  Penny 
as  follows  : 

"  SIR  THOMAS  HARDY,  Commander  of  H.  B.  M. 
squadron  off  Gardiner1  s  Island  : 

"Sir: — The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  East 
Hampton  have  requested  of  me  a  flag,  which  I  now 
authorize,  for  the  purpose  of  demanding  Joshua 
Penny,  a  natural-born  citizen  of  the  township  of 
Southold  on  this  island,  and  a  resident  of  the  town 
of  East  Hampton. 

"  He  is  demanded  as  a  non-combatant,  being  at 
tached  to  no  vessel  as  a  mariner  or  corps  of  military 
whatever,  but  was  taken  by  force  by  your  men  from 
his  bed  in  his  own  house  unarmed. 

"  The  bearer  of  this  flag  is  Lieut.  Hedges,  an  offi 
cer  under  my  command,  in  government  service. 
You  will  have  the  goodness  to  deliver  Mr.  Penny  to 


OF  MR.  PENNY.  285 


Lieut.  Hedges,  as  he  cannot  consistently  be  retained 
as  a  prisoner  of  war  by  any  article  in  the  cartel 
agreed  on,  ratified  and  confirmed  by  the  agents  of 
each  of  our  governments  for  the  exchange  of 
prisoners. 

"Given  under  my  hand,  at  the  garrison  of  Sag 
Harbor,  the  23d  day  of  August,  1813. 

"BENJ.  CASE, 

"  Major  commanding  the  troops  in  United  States 
service  at  Sag  Harbor." 

The  following  reply  was  given  : 

"His  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY'S  SHIP  Ram-illies, 

IN  GARDINER'S  BAY,  Aug.  24,  1813. 

'  'Sir : — As  it  was  late  yesterday  afternoon  when  I 
had  the  honor  of  receiving  your  letter  of  the  23d 
inst.,  requesting  the  release  of  Joshua  Penny,  I  did 
not  judge  it  proper  to  detain  Lieut.  Hedges  for  my 
reply. 

c '  I  now  beg  leave  to  inform  you  I  had  received 
certain  information  that  this  man  conducted  a  de 
tachment  of  boats,  sent  from  the  United  States 
squadron,  under  the  command  of  Com.  Decatur, 
now  lying  in  New  London,  from  that  port  to  Gardi 
ner's  Island  on  the  26th  of  July  last,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  surprising  and  capturing  the  captain  of 
H.  B.  M.'s  frigate  Orpheus  and  myself,  and  having 
failed  in  that  undertaking,  but  making  prisoners  of 
some  officers  and  men  belonging  to  the  Orpheus,  he 
went  with  the  remaining  boats  to  Three  Mile  Har 
bor.  The  next  account  I  had  of  him  was  his  being 
employed  in  a  boat  contrived  for  the  purpose,  under 
the  command  of  Thomas  Welling,  prepared  with  a 


286  RELEASE  EEFU8KD. 

torpedo  to  destroy  this  ship,  and  that  he  was  in  her 
at  Napeng  Beach  when  this  ship  and  the  Orpheus 
were  in  Port  Pond  Bay,  last  week.  He  has  also  a 
certificate  given  him  on  the  18th  of  this  month,  by 
some  of  the  respectable  inhabitants  of  East  Hamp 
ton,  recommending  him  to  Com.  Decatur  as  a  fit 
person  to  be  employed  on  a  particular  service  by 
him,  and  that  he  has  for  some  time  been  entered  on 
the  books  of  one  of  the  frigates  at  $40  per  month  ; 
add  to  which,  this  notorious  character  has  been  re 
cognized  by  some  of  the  officers  and  men  of  this 
ship  as  having  been  on  board  here  two  or  three 
times  with  clams  and  fruit — of  course  as  a  spy  to 
collect  information  of  our  movements. 

( '  Having  been  so  well  acquainted  with  the  con 
duct  of  this  man  for  the  last  six  weeks,  and  the  pur 
pose  for  which  he  has  been  so  actually  employed  in 
hostilities  against  his  Britannic  Majesty,  I  cannot 
avoid  expressing  my  surprise  that  the  inhabitants 
of  East  Hampton  should  have  attempted  to  enforce 
on  you  a  statement  so  contrary  to  fact.  I  therefore 
cannot  think  of  permitting  such  an  avowed  enemy 
to  be  out  of  my  power,  when  I  know  so  much  of 
him  as  I  do.  He  will,  therefore,  be  detained  as  a 
prisoner  of  war  until  the  pleasure  of  the  command- 
er-in-chief  is  known. 

' '  Robert  Gray,  an  inoffensive  old  man  who  was 
taken  with  Penny,  I  have  landed,  as  it  does  not 
appear  that  he  is  one  of  his  accomplices  in  the  tran 
sactions  alluded  to. 

"  I  think  proper  to  enclose  a  copy  of  my  letter  to 
Justice  Terry,  to  warn  the  inhabitants  of  the  coast 
against  permitting  the  torpedo  to  remain  anywhere 
near  them. 


INHABITANTS  THREATENED.  28? 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient, 
humble  servant,  THOMAS  M.  HARDY, 

"  Captain  of  H.  M.'s  Ship  Ramillies. 
"To  Major  BENJ.  CASE, 

Commanding  the  troops  in  the  United   States 
service  at  Sag  Harbor." 

The  following  was  sent  to  Esquire  Terry  : 

"  His  MAJESTY'S  SHIP  Ramillies,  OFF  NEW  LONDON, 

"Aug.  23,  1813. 

"Sir  : — -I  have  received  positive  information  that 
a  whale  boat,  the  property  of  Thomas  Welling  and 
others,  prepared  with  a  torpedo  for  the  avowed  pur 
pose  of  destroying  this  ship,  a  mode  of  warfare 
practised  by  individuals  from  mercenary  motives, 
and  more  novel  than  honorable, -is  kept  in  your 
neighborhood,  and  from  the  very  good  information 
I  obtained  from  various  sources,  there  is  no  doubt 
that  these  persons  will  soon  be  in  my  power.  I  beg 
you  to  warn  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  along  the 
coast  of  Long  Island,  that  wherever  I  hear  this  boat 
or  any  other  of  her  description  has  been  allowed  to 
remain  after  this  day,  I  will  order  every  house  near 
the  shore  to  be  destroyed. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  obedient  ser 
vant, 

"THOMAS  M.  HARDY,  Capt. 

"To-       -TERRY,  Esq., 

"  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Southold,  L.  I." 

When  the  enemy  first  appeared  on  our  coast  the 
eastern  ports  of  Long  Island  Sound  and  the  several 
islands  about  there  became  useful  points  in  posses 
sion  of  the  British  vessels,  where  they  could  land  in 


288  THE  ENEMY'S  QUARTERS. 

safety  and  retire  without  fear  of  surprise  or  moles 
tation. 

They  then  made  Gardiner's  Bay  a  kind  of  rendez 
vous  and  home  port  for  their  war  vessels.     It  lies 
at  the  eastern  extremity  of  Long  Island  and  forms 
an  irregular  circle  of  about  eight  miles  in  diameter. 
Gardiner's     Island    forms    the     eastern  boundary, 
of  this  bay,  and  is  four  miles  long  and   two   wide. 
The  island  was  then  highly  cultivated  and  owned 
by  Mr.  John    Lyon    Gardiner  as  one   farm.     The 
usual  farm   stock  was   1,500  sheep,  350  cattle  and 
50    horses.     Capt.    Kidd,    the    pirate,    visited   this 
island  and  buried  some  of  his  treasures  there,  some 
of  which  were  afterwards  recovered. 

A  great  variety  of  wild  fowl  and  fish  were  in 
abundance  about  the  islands,  bays  and  waters  of 
that  section. 

Shelter  Island,  separated  from  Gardiner's  Island 
by  Gardiner's  Bay,  contained  about  8,000  acres 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  then  had  fifty 
dwellings.  It  is  six  miles  long  and  four  broad. 
There  was  a  good  ship  channel  all  round  the  island. 
Great  Hog  Neck  Island  is  south  of  this  and  is  about 
three  and  a  half  miles  in  length. 

Oyster  Pond  Village  (now  Orient)  was  near  the 
east  extremity  of  the  east  branch  of  Long  Island  on 
a  peninsula  about  five  miles  long  connected  ,with 
the  wider  part  by  a  narrow  beach  one  mile  in 
length.  There  were  seventy  families  residing  there 
in  1813. 

Plumb  Island,  three  miles  long  and  one  wide,  was 
east  of  Oyster  Pond  Point,  separated  by  Plumb 
Island  Gut  of  one  mile  wide.  The  land  was  very 
stony.  Ten  families  then  resided  there. 


ON  LONG  ISLAND.  289 

The  Gull  Islands,  three  miles  east  of  Plumb 
Island,  the  largest  contains  fourteen  acres  and  the 
smallest  one  acre,  both  owned  by  the  United  States. 
On  the  smallest  was  a  lighthouse  fifty-six  feet  high 
and  seventy-four  feet  above  tide.  Fisher's  Island  is 
about  six  miles  northeast  of  the  Gull  Islands,  is 
about  twelve  miles  long,  average  width  of  one  mile. 
Its  surface  is  hilly  and  broken  and  was  then  owned 
in  one  farm  by  Wm.  Winthrop.  It  had  a  very 
large  and  extensive  dairy  and  cattle  droves.  Pota 
toes,  corn  and  wheat  were  the  principal  crops.  It 
was  highly  cultivated.  It  is  nine  miles  from  New 
London  and  four  from  Stonington. 

Ram's  Island  at  the  mouth  of  Mystic  river,  Con 
necticut,  contained  about  twelve  acres  of  land. 

Robin's  Island  in  Great  Peconic  Bay,  between 
Southold  and  Southampton,  opposite  Cutchogue, 
contained  400  acres: 

On  the  eastern  extremity  of  Long  Island  at  Mon- 
tauk  Point,  on  North  Hill,  was  a  lighthouse  (which 
is  still  standing),  eighty-five  feet  high  and  one  hun 
dred  and  sixty  feet  above  tide-water  and  the  light 
can  be  seen  thirty  miles  at  sea.  A  community  of 
120  farmers  owned  and  occupied  Montauk  and  then 
had  about  9,000  acres  of  excellent  land,  and  kept 
1,500  cattle  and  1,400  sheep  and  %00  horses.  The 
Indians  occupied  1,000  acres  and  were  then  only 
about  one  hundred  in  number. 

The  coasting  trade  with  New  York  city  along  the 
shores  of  Long  Island  Sound  was  at  that  time  much 
more  extensive  and  brisk  than  it  ever  has  been 
since  the  introduction  of  steamboat  and  railroad 
transportation.  The  tonnage  of  coasters  was  not 
registered  as  foreign  tonnage  was,  so  that  it  is  only 


290  THE  ENEMY 


by  estimates  that  it  can  now  be  shown.  As  a 
sample  of  that  time  we  may  refer  to  Smithtown 
harbor  in  Suffolk  county.  There  were  fourteen 
vessels  of  from  30  to  100  tons  burthen  principally  in 
the  trade  with  New  York  city.  The  population  of 
the  entire  town  was  then  less  than  2,000. 

The  packet  communication  between  New  Haven 
and  New  York  City  was  not  interrupted  by  the 
blockading  squadron.  New  Haven  was  not  included 
in  the  British  blockade  orders  of  May,  1813. 

In  July,  1813,  Com.  Hardy  sent  his  compliments 
to  Mr.  Holt,  the  keeper  of  the  lighthouse  on  Little 
Gull  Island,  requesting  that  it  might  be  extinguish 
ed.  Mr.  Holt  returned  his  compliments  saying  that 
nothing  but  an  order  from  the  United  States  gov 
ernment  or  force  could  make  him  extinguish  it.  A 
month  later  Com.  Hardy  sent  a  boat  ashore  and  de 
stroyed  the  lamps  of  the  lighthouse. 

The  lighthouse  on  Little  Gull  Island  was  built  in 
1806  by  the  United  States.  The  tower  was  56  feet 
high  and  the  light  74  feet  above  the  water.  The 
light  was  visible  13  miles  distant.  It  was  seven 
miles  beyond  Orient  Point. 

When  Sir  Thomas  M.  Hardy  took  command  of  the 
blockading  squadron  off  New  York  harbor  in  June, 
he  made  his  headquarters  in  Gardiner's  Bay  and  by 
his  honorable  treatment  of  the  inhabitants  all  along 
the  coast  of  Long  Island  he  won  their  good  opinion 
and  thus  was  enabled  to  obtain  all  the  necessary 
supplies  of  food,  etc.,  that  he  desired,  always  read 
ily  paying  for  what  he  took. 

Extract  from  a  letter  from  Oyster  Pond  Point, 
Long  Island,  dated  July  3  : 

"This    afternoon  the  enemy  landed  on  Oyster 


ON  LONG  ISLAND.  291 


Pond  Point.  They  bought  a  Mr.  Jerome  from 
Plumb  Island  with  them  and  sent  him  up  as  their 
agent  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  village,  with 
a  demand  for  a  number  of  cattle.  They  say 
they  will  have  them  peaceably  if  they  can,  forcibly 
if  they  must,  and  that  if  opposed  they  can 
land  YOO  men.  There  will  no  doubt  be  arrange 
ments  made  among  the  inhabitants  to  furnish  the 
supply  demanded,  and  the  enemy  will  land  some 
day  next  week  to  take  their  provisions  off." 

Suffolk  county  formed  the  thirty- third  brigade  of 
New  York  militia,  composed  of  four  regiments  of 
infantry.  There  was  an  artillery  company  of  not 
more  than  fifty  men.  There  was  a  small  brick  ar 
senal  at  Sag  Harbor  in  which  there  were  four  18- 
pounders  on  carriages  and  some  small  arms  kept 
when  the  war  commenced.  They  were  removed  to 
a  place  of  greater  safety  from  the  enemy. 

Sag  Harbor  was  then  the  metropolis  of  Suffolk 
county.  It  was  a  port  of  entry,  had  a  post  office, 
and  a  place  of  considerable  trade.  There  were  then 
about  80  houses.  In  1810  the  tonnage  was  5,000 
tons.  The  coasting  trade  was  also  quite  extensive. 
The  county  at  that  time  had  about  25,000  popula 
tion. 

The  entire  county  was  subject  to  marauding  par 
ties  from  the  British  war  vessels,  but  the  com 
mands  of  the  officers  were  to  respect  private  prop 
erty  and  to  pay  for  whatever  provisions  were  taken 
from  residents. 

The  lighthouses  on  and  about  the  islands  and 
points  were  not  disturbed  excepting  on  Gull's  Is 
land. 

Sag  Harbor  was  not  occupied  by  the  British  forces 


292  ATTACK  ON 


and  only  once  attacked.  A  force  of  New  York 
State  militia  was  stationed  there  during  the  entire 
war. 

While  the  British  fleet  under  command  of  Capt. 
Hardy  occupied  Gardiner's  Bay,  in  July,  1813,  an 
attempt  was  made  by  the  enemy  to  destroy  the  ship 
ping  in  Sag  Harbor  and  perhaps  to  plunder  the 
village.  To  accomplish  this  a  launch  and  two 
barges  of  the  enemy,  with  one  hundred  men,  ap 
proached  the  village  by  night  and  landed  on  the 
wharf.  An  alarm  was  immediately  given  by  the 
sentry  and  the  guns  of  the  small  fort  occupied  by 
the  militia  were  turned  upon  them.  This  fire  be 
came  at  once  too  hot  to  be  faced  with  impunity,  and 
the  assailants  retired  with  all  possible  expedition 
after  having  set  fire  to  a  single  sloop.  In  their  dis 
orderly  retreat  they  left  a  number  of  guns,  swords 
and  other  arms  behind  them.  The  fire  they  had 
started  was  quickly  put  out,  before  much  damage 
was  done. 

The  following  letter  was  published  in  a  New 
York  paper  : 

"  SAG  HARBOR,  July  Wth,  1814. 

"  This  day  twelve  months  was  the  last  time  and 
first  that  the  enemy  visited  us.  They  are  permitted 
to  come  ashore  and  get  whatever  they  choose  with 
in  ten  or  twelve  miles  of  us.  The  officers  and 
crews  of  their  war  vessels  are  daily  feasting  on  the 
rich  produce  of  the  American  soil  and  at  a  liberal 
price." 

Another  skirmish  took  place  in  August,  1813,  on 
the  north  shore. 

An  American  cutter,  closely  pursued  by  a  British 
man-of-war,  was  run  ashore  near  Northville,  north 


SAG  HARBOR.  293 


of  Riverhead,  and  a  determined  fight  took  place  be 
tween  the  quickly  gathered  militia  and  the  pursu 
ing  barges  from  the  enemy's  ship.  The  militia 
kept  up  so  hot  a  fire  of  light  artillery  and  musketry 
from  behind  the  bank  that  the  enemy  were  several 
times  repulsed,  and  although  aided  by  a  heavy  can 
nonade  from  the  ship  were  forced  to  retire.  The 
enemy  sailed  down  to  the  British  fleet  off  Orient, 
and  was  ordered  back  the  next  day,  reinforced,  to 
renew  the  fight,  and  then  succeed  in  capturing  the 
dismantled  and  sinking  prize. 

No  person  was  killed  on  Long  Island  during  the 
war  and  only  one  prisoner  taken,  he  was  Joshua 
Penny,  taken  from  his  house  in  July,  1813,  by  Com. 
Hardy  for  being  one  of  a  number  of  persons  con 
cerned  in  fitting  out  a  torpedo  vessel  to  destroy  the 
English  vessels  as  before  narrated. 

In  consequence  of  the  frequent  and  easy  commu 
nication  of  intelligence  with  the  enemy  the  secre 
tary  of  war,  by  general  orders  (July  20th,  1813),  di 
rected  that  all  vessels  or  craft  that  attempted  or 
were  suspected  of  proceeding  to  or  communicating 
with  any  station,  vessel,  squadron  or  fleet  of  the 
enemy  be  detained.  • 
.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  order  : 

66  UNITED  STATES  NAVY.     GENERAL  ORDERS. 
UNAVY  DEPARTMENT,  July  20,  1813. 

"  The  palpable  and  criminal  intercourse  held 
with  the  enemy's  forces,  blockading  and  invading 
the  waters  and  shores  of  the  United  States,  is,  in  a 
military  point  of  view,  an  offence  of  so  deep  a  dye 
as  to  call  for  the  vigilant  interposition  of  all  the 
naval  officers  of  the  United  States. 

' f  This  intercourse  is  not  only  carried  on  by  for- 


294  COMMUNICATIONS  WITH 

eigners  under  the  specious  garb  of  friendly  flags, 
who  convey  provisions,  water  and  succor  of  all 
kinds  (ostensibly  destined  for  friendly  ports  in  the 
face,  too,  of  a  declared  and  rigorous  blockade),  di 
rect  to  the  fleets  and  stations  of  the  enemy,  with 
constant  intelligence  of  our  naval  and  military  force 
and  preparation,  and  the  means  of  continuing  and 
conducting  the  invasion  to  the  greatest  possible 
annoyance  of  the  country  ;  but  the  same  traffic,  in 
tercourse,  and  intelligence  is  carried  on  with  great 
subtilty  and  treachery  by  profligate  citizens,  who  in 
vessels  ostensibly  navigating  our  own  waters  from 
port  to  port  under  cover  of  night,  or  other  circum 
stances  favorable  to  their  turpitude,  find  means  to 
convey  succor  or  intelligence  to  the  enemy,  and  elude 
the  penalty  of  the  laws.  This  lawless  traffic  and 
intercourse  is  carried  on  to  a  great  extent,  in  craft 
whose  capacity  exempts  them  from  the  regulations 
of  the  revenue  laws,  and  from  the  vigilance  which 
vessels  of  greater  capacity  attract. 

' f  I  am,  therefore,  commanded  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States  to  enjoin  and  direct  all  naval 
commanding  officers  to  exercise  the  strictest  vigi 
lance,  and  to  stop  and  detain  all  vessels  or  craft 
whatsoever  proceeding  or  apparently  intended  to  pro 
ceed  towards  the  enemy's  vessels  within  the  waters 
or  hovering  about  the  harbors  of  the  United  States  ; 
or  towards  any  station  occupied  by  the  enemy  with 
in  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States,  from  which 
vessels  or  craft  the  enemy  might  derive  succor  or 
intellegence.  "W.  JONES, 

"  Secretary  United  States  Navy. 

"  To  the  naval  commanding  officers  of  stations  or 
vessels  of  the  Navy  of  the  United  States. " 


THE  ENEMY  PROHIBITED.  295 

The  following  order  was  also  issued  : 

"ADJUTANT  AND  INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Aug.  6th,  1813. 

"  All  officers  of  the  army  of  the  United  States  com 
municating  districts,  forts  or  fortresses,  are  com 
manded  to  turn  back,  and  in  case  of  any  attempt 
to  evade  this  order,  to  detain  all  vessels  or  river  or 
bay  craft,  which  may  be  suspected  of  proceeding  to, 
or  of  communicating  with,  any  station,  vessel, 
squadron  or  fleet  of  the  enemy  within  the  waters  of 
the  United  States. 

"By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

UC.  K.  GARDNER,  Asst.  Adjt.-Gen." 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  packet  sloop  Juno, 
Capt.  John  Howard,  continued  to  ply  back  and 
forth  between  New  London  and -New  York  during 
the  whole  war.  Her  only  serious  disaster  was  when 
she  was  driven  into  Saybrook  and  her  mast  shot 
away.  The  commander  had  four  pieces  of  cannon 
on  deck  and  kept  well  supplied  with  ammunition 
and  confined  himself  strictly  to  a  defensive  course. 
It  was  always  observed  that  the  British  blockading 
squadron  obtained  all  the  newspapers  regularly 
as  soon  as  published.  Probably  Capt.  Howard  knew 
how  they  obtained  them. 

On  the  evening  of  the  28th  of  July,  two  boats 
from  the  Macedonian  and  two  from  the  United 
States  (the  blockaded  vessels  in  New  London  har 
bor),  under  Lieut.  Gallager,  made  an  excursion  into 
the  Sound.  In  the  night  a  small  boat  under  the  di 
rection  of  Midshipman  Ten  Eyke,  being  separated 
by  a  strong  wind  and  tide  from  the  others,  landed 
on  Gardiner's  Island.  In  the  morning,  finding 
themselves  under  the  arms  of  the  Ramillies,  the 


296  COM.  HARDY  REMOVES. 

boat  was  hauled  ashore.  Soon  after  a  boat  contain 
ing  several  officers  came  ashore  from  the  Ramillies 
and  the  officers  went  to  a  dwelling  house.  Mid 
shipman  Ten  Eyke  seized  the  favorable  moment, 
made  prisoners  of  those  who  were  left  with  the 
English  boat,  being  a  midshipman,  master's  mate 
and  five  seamen,  and  then  with  two  men  pro 
ceeded  to  the  house,  where  he  took  two  lieutenants 
prisoners,  making  in  all  nine  men.  Finding  they 
were  discovered  by  the  Ramillies,  the  captives  were 
paroled  and  Mr.  Ten  Eyke  and  crew  made  their 
escape  to  Long  Island.  The  succeeding  night  the 
other  boat  took  them  off. 

Com.  Hardy  left  the  New  London  blockading 
squadron  in  August,  and  sailed  for  Halifax,  and 
Capt.  Oliver,  of  the  Valiant,  took  command. 

There  were  then  four  74's,  one  frigate  and  two 
smaller  vessels  in  the  squadron.  In  September  it 
consisted  of  the  Valiant,  74 ;  Acasta,  48 ;  Orpheus, 
38  ;  and  Atalanta,  18. 

A  despatch  from  New  London  on  September  1st, 
stated  that  the  torpedo  from  New  York  was  chased 
on  Tuesday  of  the  week  previous,  nine  miles  by 
several  British  boats,  but  by  frequently  diving  es 
caped.  The  prisoners  that  were  landed  on  Sunday 
at  NeAv  London  stated  that  guard  boats  were  kept 
continually  rowing  round  the  ships  during  the  night. 

The  many  discouraging  events  to  the  American 
arms  since  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign  of 
1813  produced  a  melancholy  feeling  in  the  nation. 
In  August  the  president  designated  that  the  9th  of 
September  should  be  observed  as  a  day  of  "humilia 
tion,  fasting,  and  prayer,"  and  for  an  invocation  for 
Divine  help. 


INSPECTION  AI  SAND T  HOOK.  297 

The  clerk  of  the  common  council  was  directed  to 
publish  in  the  several  newspapers  a  request  to  the 
citizens  to  refrain  from  labor  and  business  on  that 
day. 

The  common  council  took  no  other  official  no 
tice  of  this  day  but  left  it  in  the  hands  of  those  who 
had  assumed  the  responsibility.  The  day  previous 
(the  8th)  the  mayor,  recorder  and  common  coun 
cil  embarked  on  a  boat  provided  for  the  purpose, 
for  Spermaceti  Cove,  below  Sandy  Hook,  to  review 
the  flotilla  of  gunboats  stationed  there  under  Com 
modore  Lewis  and  to  inspect  the  fortifications  and  de 
fences  in  that  neighborhood.  A  previous  notice  had 
been  given  of  the  contemplated  visit  and  the  sailors 
and  soldiers  were  ready  to  receive  the  honorable 
body.  The  following  account  of  the  reception  and 
visit  was  written  at  the  time  : 

"The  gunboats  drawn  up  in  a  crescent  in  Sper 
maceti  Cove,  were  handsomely  decorated  with 
various  colors  and  made  a  brilliant  appearance. 
The  members  of  the  corporation  passed  in  front  of 
the  flotilla,  and  on  landing  in  the  Cove  reviewed  a 
fine  corps  composed  of  600  seamen.  On  approach 
ing  the  right,  they  were  complimented  with  a  dis 
charge  from  the  field  pieces,  the  officers  saluting  as 
they  passed  along  the  line  in  front.  The  troops 
went  through  their  firings  by  platoons,  divisions, 
etc.,  after  which  they  performed  a  variety  of 
manceuvers  with  a  precision  which  would  do  credit 
to  any  regiment. 

"  The  spectators  were  exceedingly  gratified  with 
the  military  appearance  of  these  bold  tars,  whose 
discipline  reflects  the  highest  honor  on  Com.  Lewis 


298  THE  ENEMY'S   VESSELS 

and  his  officers,  and  the  greatest  praise  is  due  to  the 
men. 

'  The  visitors  next  went  to  Fort  Gates  at  the  north 
side  of  the  Hook,  where  they  were  received  with  the 
usual  military  compliments  by  the  battalion  on 
duty  at  that  station,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Wadsworth. 

''While  the  review  were  performing,  intelligence 
was  received  by  the  commodore  of  the  enemy's  ap 
proach  to  this  city  by  way  of  the  Sound.  Upon  a 
signal  being  given  the  corps  instantly  embarked 
with  their  field  pieces,  etc. ,  and  the  flotilla,  consisting 
of  twenty -six  sail,  got  under  way  in  an  hour  and 
stood  up  the  bay.  They  passed  through  Hell  Gate 
in  the  night  and  arrived  to  the  eastward  of  Throgg's 
Point  between  8  and  9  o'clock  in  the  morning.  At 
half -past  12  P.M.,  the  headmost  British  frigate  ap 
proached  within  three  miles  of  the  flotilla  and  fired 
thirty  or  forty  shots.  A  few  shots  were  returned 
by  the  gunboats  but  at  too  great  a  distance  to  do 
execution." 

The  following  account  appeared  in  the  New  York 
Mercantile  Advertiser  on  Thursday  morning,  Sept. 
9,  1813  : 

"  Yesterday  morning  a  British  frigate  and  a 
sloop-of  war  were  at  anchor  off  Eye  Neck,  about 
ten  miles  above  New  Kochelle,  in  the  middle  of  the 
Sound,  where  they  remained  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  becalmed,  with  six  sloops  and  schooners 
(their  prizes)  at  anchor  astern  of  them,  and  several 
tenders  cruising  about  the  Sound,  two  of  which, 
apparently  smacks,  were  several  miles  this  side  of 
New  Kochelle.  In  the  morning,  at  eleven  o'clock, 
the  enemy  had  nine  sloops  and  schooners  at  anchor 


NEAR  THE  CITY.  299 


astern  of  them,  all  of  which  were  supposed  to  be 
prizes. 

UA  gentleman  from  Mamaroneck  informed  us 
that  the  enemy  made  thirty  prizes  on  Tuesday  after 
noon,  twenty  of  which  they  sent  off  to  the  east- 
ward,  and  that  the  same  evening  they  sent  their 
harges  ashore  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mamaroneck 
and  stole  from  sixty  to  eighty  sheep.  A  sloop  was 
also  chased  into  Mamaroneck  by  one  of  the  tenders 
and  escaped  without  any  other  damage  than  a  shot 
through  the  mainsail.  A  sloop  that  had  made  a 
harbor  in  Stamford  was  cut  out  by  one  of  the  ten 
ders,  who  fired  a  volley  of  musketry  at  several 
gentlemen  who  were  walking  on  the  beach,  but  for 
tunately  did  not  hit  them. 

' '  We  are  informed  that  a  gun  brig  and  a  frigate 
are  cruising  about  ten  miles  to  the  eastward  of 
Eye  Neck. 

'  i  The  inhabitants  from  Harlem  to  Stamford  are 
considerably  alarmed  and  the  militia  have  turned 
out  with  the  greatest  alacrity  ;  they  are,  however, 
in  want  of  small  arms,  artillery  and  ammunition, 
which  is  not  to  be  had  in  their  neighborhood,  in 
consequence  of  which  we  understand  they  have 
made  application  to  the  commanding  officer  in  this 
city  for  the  necessary  supplies,  which  we  presume 
will  be  readily  granted. 

6  i  A  company  of  mounted  artillery  with  two 
pieces  of  cannon  left  this  city  yesterday  afternoon 
for  New  Kochelle  and  arrived  at  Harlem  about  sun 
down. 

"  We  likewise  understand  that  the  gunboat  flo 
tilla  are  bound  up  the  Sound,  and  are  confident  if 
they  should  meet  the  enemy  in  a  similar  situation 


300  GREAT  ALARM. 


to  that  of  yesterday,  they  could  be  able  to  give  a 
very  satisfactory  account  of  him." 

A  battalion  of  militia  from  Westchester  county 
was  called  out. 

Another  account  says : 

"  The  New  London  blockading  squadron  on  8th 
of  September  came  by  Long  Island  Sound  to  a  place 
within  twelve  miles  of  New  York  city.  They  cap 
tured  twenty  coasters  and  took  a  large  quantity  of 
sheep  from  the  land.  Commodore  Lewis  on  receiv 
ing  information  of  the  enemy's  movements  pro 
ceeded  up  the  Sound  with  twenty -five  gunboats  to 
meet  them.  By  9  o'clock  on  the  9th  he  was  at 
Sands'  Point  within  ten  miles  of  the  enemy.  Two 
of  the  British  war  vessels  the  Acasta  and  Atalanta 
got  under  way  and  stood  towards  them.  At  one 
o'clock  P.M.  the  commodore  brought  his  flotilla  of 
gunboats  to  anchor  in  Hempstead  Bay  ready  to  re 
ceive  the  enemy.  The  British  exchanged  ten  or 
fifteen  shots  at  too  great  a  distance  to  produce  any 
effect  and  then  stood  to  the  eastward  and  were  soon 
out  of  sight.  The  flotilla  of  gunboats  returned  to 
their  former  station  at  Sandy  Hook." 

This  caused  great  commotion  and  anxiety  in  the 
city  for  several  days. 

It  seems  that  the  enemy  had  taken  that  oppor 
tunity  and  the  day  for  the  purpose  of  disturbing 
the  inhabitants  in  their  devotions,  as  they  well  knew 
for  what  purpose  the  9th  had  been  set  apart. 

Some  of  the  Federalist  newspapers  called  atten 
tion  to  the  selections  in  the  Episcopal  book  of  ser 
vice  for  the  9th  day  of  the  month  as  being  particu 
larly  applicable  to  the  condition  of  affairs  at  that 
time. 


ENEMY  AT  SANDY  HOOK.  301 

In  September  a  small  vessel  was  sent  out  from 
Tort  Gates,  at  the  Highlands  near  Sandy  Hook,  in 
disguise  as  a  coaster,  and  succeeded  in  "  surround 
ing  "  one  of  the  British  barges  after  killing  several 
of  the  crew  ;  the  rest  were  brought  to  the  city. 

In  the  summer  Commodore  Lewis  sent  out  the 
following  circular : 

' '  To  all  owners  and  masters  of  vessels  : 
"I  deem  it  important  that  they  should  be  in 
formed  that  there  is  a  blockhouse  erected  at  Sper 
maceti  Cove  on  which  are  mounted  three  pieces  of 
heavy  ordnance  for  the  protection  of  vessels  when 
pursued  by  the  enemy.  Also  in  the  event  of  being 
so  closely  pursued  by  the  enemy  as  to  be  obliged  to 
beach  the  vessel,  the  nearer  the  vessel  can  get  to 
that  port  the  sooner  she  will  receive  assistance  and 
protection  from  the  flotilla,  where  a  body  of  men  are 
held  in  readiness  to  march  at  signal  warning. 

UJ.  LEWIS, 
"  Com.  United  States  Flotilla." 

This  was  on  the  coast  below  Sandy  Hook. 

Some  of  the  enemy's  war  vessels  were  about 
Sandy  Hook  all  the  time,  on  the  lookout  for  coast 
ers  as  well  as  to  maintain  the  blockade.  Com. 
Lewis  and  his  flotilla  were  constantly  on  the  alert. 
There  were  several  occasions  when  the  blockhouse 
at  Spermaceti  Cove  was  brought  into  actual  service 
against  the  enemy's  small  craft,  when  in  pursuit  of 
some  coasting  or  fishing  smacks. 

The  following  account  of  an  action  of  that  kind 
was  published  in  the  Evening  Post  on  Sept.  13th  : 

u  About  T  o'clock  last  evening  some  alarm  was 
experienced  in  the  city  at  the  report  of  several 


302  SKIRMISH  AT  SANDY  HO  OK. 

heavy  guns  proceeding  from  Fort  Richmond,  at  the 
Narrows.  The  particulars  were  not  accurately  as 
certained  until  this  morning  when  the  pilot  boat 
Unicorn,  in  the  employment  of  the  government,  came 
up  from  the  Hook.  By  her  we  learn  that  a  British 
frigate  was  discovered  yesterday  afternoon,  about 
5  o'clock,  standing  in  from  the  eastward,  with  the 
wind  south,  in  chase  of  a  fishing  smack,  which  she 
pursued  until  within  reach  of  the  guns  of  the  block 
house  in  Spermaceti  Cove.  As  soon  as  she  was 
judged  within  reach,  a  fire  was  opened  upon  her 
from  a  battery  of  several  32-pounders  in  the  block 
house  and  from  three  gunboats.  About  twenty  shots 
were  thrown  at  her,  two  of  which  struck  her,  and 
from  the  confusion  discovered  on  her  deck  by  some 
gentlemen  who  were  on  the  top  of  the  lighthouse 
with  glasses  viewing  the  attack,  it  is  supposed  much 
damage  was  done  her.  She  soon  put  about  and 
stood  out  to  sea,  without  having  been  able  to  make 
a  prize  of  the  smack.  The  frigate  fired  several  shots 
at  the  blockhouse  and  gunboats,  all  of  which  fell 
short." 

There  was  no  fear  of  the  large  war  vessels  ap 
proaching  because  of  the  sand  bars  and  shoals  about 
there.  They  were  frequently  seen  up  near  Rock- 
away,  however.  At  that  time  there  was  a  daily  stage 
from  Brooklyn  to  Rockaway. 

A  gentleman  stated  that  at  Rockaway,  on  the  15th 
of  September,  as  he  and  another  person  were  about 
going  to  bathe  on  the  beach  at  that  place,  they  dis 
covered  near  the  shore  four  barges,  supposed  to  be 
long  to  the  frigate  Statira,  in  pursuit  of  a  schooner 
which  was  endeavoring  to  gain  the  shore.  While 
the  gentlemen  were  considering  whether  it  would  be 


ENEMY  A  T  ROCK  A  WA  Y.  303 

safe  to  bathe  in  that  situation  a  cannon  ball  from  one 
of  the  barges  passed  within  four  feet  of  one  of  them; 
they  then  thought  it  time  to  make  off,  and  had  not 
proceeded  but  a  short  distance  before  another  ball 
struck  and  lodged  in  the  ground  within  a  foot  of 
the  other  gentleman.  This  ball  was  brought  to 
Kockaway  and  weighed  over  twelve  pounds. 

The  enemy  also  had  a  large  fleet  in  the  Chesa 
peake  about  that  time.  The  whole  force  there  was 
reported  to  be  thirty- seven  vessels,  as  follows  :  five 
74' s,  eleven  frigates,  two  transports,  nine  brigs  and 
ten  schooners.  They  stayed  in  that  neighborhood 
until  in  November. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  City  in  Mourning — Funeral  of  Capt.  Lawrence  and  Lieut. 
Ludlow — Perry's  Victory  on  Lake  Erie  and  Gen.  Harrison's 
Victory  over  the  Indians — Great  Rejoicing— Public  and  Pri 
vate  Buildings  Illuminated — Effect  of  these  Victories — British 
Boasting. 


P  to  this  time  the  hopes  and  fears  that 
alternately  dwelt  in  the  public  mind 
in  New  York  city  caused  by  the  course 
of  events,  had  little  or  no  visible 
causes  of  mourning.  No  public  sor 
row  had  been  recognized  as  such  by 
all.  When  the  intelligence  of  the  death  of  Capt. 
Lawrence  was  received  a  thrill  of  sorrow  and  grief 
pervaded  the  public  mind.  He  had  been  publicly 
honored  by  the  city  authorities  on  the  eve  of  his  de 
parture,  in  recognition  of  the  victory  of  the  Hornet 
over  the  Peacock,  as  already  narrated  in  a  previous 
chapter.  Popular  opinion  demanded  that  something 
further  should  be  done  to  honor  his  memory. 

The  plate  that  had  been  ordered  to  be  presented 
to  him  in  behalf  of  the  city  (ante,  chapter  XII.) 
had  never  been  presented,  because  he  had  been  or 
dered  away  before  it  could  be  made  ready  for  formal 
presentation.  He  left  his  family  in  New  York  and 
hastened  to  Boston,  where  he  was  ordered  to  the 
command  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  sail  against  the 
enemy,  who  were  then  frequently  seen  on  the  east 
ern  coast. 

On  that  bright  June  morning,  when  the  Chesa- 


DEATH  OF  CAPT.  LAWRENCE.  305 

peake  and  her  brave  commander  sailed  forth  out  of 
Boston  harbor,  to  meet  the  haughty  Briton  who  was 
defiantly  flaunting  the  flag  that  claimed  to  rule  the 
seas,  with  the  American  battle  flag  bearing  the 
motto  "  Free  Trade  and  Sailors'  Rights,"  and  the 
stars  and  stripes  of  his  country,  it  was  not  supposed 
that  even  his  defeat  might  leave  a  legacy  of  courage 
to  his  countrymen  that  could  never  be  forgotten. 

It  was  under  this  banner  and  the  stars  and  stripes, 
while  his  youthful  life  blood  was  rapidly  flowing, 
that  he  said  :  "  Tell  the  men  to  fire  faster  and  not 
give  up  the  ship.  Fight  her  until  she  sinks."  It 
was  thus  that  the  battle  cry  of  "Don't  give  up  the 
ship  "  had  its  origin.* 

*  To  most  of  us  who  are  past  middle  age  the  event  of  the 
battle  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Shannon,  and  the  motto  "Don't 
give  up  the  ship  "  seems  ancient.  But  long-  ago  and  very  recently 
and  during  the  time  when  this  chapter  was  going  through  the 
press  the  writer  has  conversed  with  a  spectator  of  that  event  as 
viewed  from  the  cupola  of  the  old  State  House  in  Boston.  The 
spectator,  who  resides  in  this  city, is  still  sound  in  mind  and  body, 
Mr.  John  Davenport,  who  has  been  so  long  (since  1848) 
connected  with  the  public  school  system  in  New  York 
city,  is  well-known  by  many.  He  remembers  distinctly  the 
event,  which  he  saw  when  a  boy  of  nine  years.  When  Capt. 
Lawrence  marched  down  State  Street  in  Boston  on  that  day 
(June  1,  1813).  to  take  the  Chesapeake  and  give  battle  to  the 
Shannon,  which  was  then  in  plain  sight  off  Boston  harbor,  all 
was  excitement.  All  day  the  news  of  the  expected  battle  had 
been  spreading  and  the  docks  and  house  tops  and  church  spires 
and  all  the  eminences  that  could  command  a  view  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  vessels,  were  swarming  with  people.  Occasionally  a 
gun  could  be  heard,  but  the  battle  did  not  occur  until  near  the 
close  of  the  afternoon.  Young  Davenport,  when  on  his  way 
home  from  school  about  four  o'clock,  as  he  was  about  passing 
the  old  State  House,  thought  he  would  go  up  in  it.  He  climbed 
up  to  the  cupola  and  found  only  two  men  there.  They  had  a 
field  glass  and  were  kind  enough  to  hold  it  for  him,  and  he  saw 
the  smoke  from  the  guns  of  each  vessel  puff  out  towards  the 
other,  but  could  hear  no  sound.  The  smoke  of  the  battle  could 
be  seen  by  the  multitude,  and  after  a  time  the  firing  ceased  and 
the  two  ships  silently  moved  out  to  sea  and  finally  disappeared 
in  the  evening  shades.  Then  it  was  almost  instinctively  felt 
that  the  Chesapeake  had  been  captured.  It  was  merely  a  mat- 


306  ACTION  OF  THE 


On  the  12th  of  July  a  committee,  consisting  of  the 
Recorder  and  Messrs.  Lawrence  and  Smith,  were 
appointed  by  the  common  council  to  consider  and 
report  what  testimonials  of  respect  would  be  proper 
for  the  common  council  to  pay  to  the  memory  of 
the  late  Capt.  James  Lawrence. 

When  it  had  been  learned  that  the  bodies  of  the 
dead  heroes  were  in  Salem  and  could  be  brought 
here,  a  committee  was  appointed  on  Aug.  28th  "to 
make  such  arrangements  arid  direct  such  funeral 
honors  to  be  paid  to  the  remains  of  Capt.  Lawrence 
and  Lieut.  Ludlow  as  they  shall  deem  proper."  The 
committee  consisted  of  Messrs.  Lawrence,  Smith 
and  King. 

Lieut.  Augustus  C.  Ludlow,  who  fell  at  the  side 
of  Capt.  Lawrence,  was  from  Newburg,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  scarcely  twenty-two  years  of  age.* 

Mr.  Edward  N.  Cox,  who  resided  at  35  Cortlandt 
Street,  New  York,  a  brother-in-law  to  Capt.  Law 
rence,  proceeded  to  Salem,  Mass.,  and  having 
received  the  bodies  of  the  two  heroes,  conveyed  them 
to  the  city  of  New  York. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  the  mortal  remains  of 
Capt.  Lawrence  and  Lieut.  Ludlow  arrived  in  New 
York  from  Salem  by  land,  some  delay  having 
occurred  in  obtaining  a  permit  from  Capt.  Oliver,  in 


ter  of  conjecture  for  several  days,  but  the  first  tiding-s  came  from 
Halifax,  where  the  Shannon  had  taken  her  captive.  The  burial 
of  Capt  Lawrence  and  Lieut.  Ludlow,  who  fell  by  his  side,  had 
then  taken  place  with  military  honors  in  Halifax.  ]n  New  York 
city  it  was  reported  for  several  days^  that  the  Shannon  had 
been  captured. 

*  Lieut.  Ludlow  was  one  of  the  much  esteemed  family  of  that 
name  and  one  of  the  three  sons  of  Robert  C.  Ludlow,  of  Orange 
County.  They  were  all  in  the  navy.  See  "Our  Predecessors 
and  Descendants,"  by  Robert  Ludlow  Fowler,  New  York,  1888. 


COMMON  COUNCIL.  30T 

command  of  the  British  squadron  blockading  New 
York,  to  bring  them  in  by  sea.  They  were  placed 
on  board  the  U.  S.  sloop-of-,war  Alert,  near  Gover 
nor's  Island,  until  preparations  for  a  public  funeral 
could  be  made. 

On  the  next  day  the  committee,  to  whom  it  was 
referred  to  report  such  public  testimonials  of  respect 
as  it  would  be  proper  to  pay  to  the  remains  of  Capt. 
Lawrence  and  Lieut.  Ludlow,  reported  the  follow 
ing  recitals  and  resolutions  : 

' '  The  common  council  have  received,  with  feelings 
of  the  deepest  regret,  intelligence  of  the  death  of 
Capt.  James  Lawrence  and  Lieut.  Augustus  C.  Lud 
low,  who  fell  in  the  late  engagement  of  the  U.  S. 
frigate  Chesapeake  with  the  British  frigate  Shannon. 
While  they  mingle  their  tears  with  those  of  their 
fellow  citizens  in  lamenting  their  loss,  they  also  add 
their  tribute  of  esteem  and  admiration  for  the  hero 
ism  and  gallantry  which  they  displayed  in  that  ac 
tion  which  terminated  their  honorable  career. 

"  To  reward  by  marks  of  public  esteem  deeds  of 
individual  heroism  is  just,  as  the  recompense  of 
merit ;  and  proper,  as  an  incentive  to  future  acts 
of  patriotism. 

"Therefore,  to  evince  the  high  sense  this  corpo 
ration  entertains  of  acts  of  devotion  to  our  country, 
and  of  the  affectionate  regard  which  they  hold  the 
memory  of  the  late  Capt.  James  Lawrence,  it  is 

"  Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars 
be  granted  to  each  of  the  two  children  of  Capt. 
Lawrence  and  be  vested  in  the  commissioners  of  the 
sinking  fund  of  the  corporation,  the  interest  aris 
ing  therefrom  to  be  added  at  least  yearly  to  the 
principal  and  to  be  paid  by  them  to  the  said  chil- 


308  FUNERAL  ARRANGEMENTS. 

dren,  to  the  daughter  when  she  shall  arrive  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years,  and  to  the  son  when  he  shall 
arrive  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  In  case  of 
the  death  of  either  before  his  or  her  arrival  at  the 
age  above  mentioned  the  portion  of  the  deceased  to 
the  survivor,  and  in  case  of  the  death  of  both,  the 
sums  to  revert  to  the  common  council  to  be  here 
after  applied  to  reward  such  naval  merit  as  the 
common  council  shall  determine. 

"Resolved,  That  the  common  council  will  take 
charge  of  the  interment  of  the  remains,  etc." 

The  resolution  as  to  the  donation  to  the  children 
was  carried  by  ten  votes  in  the  affirmative  and 
eight  in  the  negative.  All  the  others  were  passed 
unanimously. 

Another  resolution  declared  that  the  common 
council  take  charge  of  the  interment  and  pre 
scribed  regulations  and  the  order  of  the  procession, 
etc. 

The  committee  having  this  in  charge  were  Messrs. 
Lawrence,  Smith  and  King.  The  resolutions  and 
order  of  procession  were  published. 

The  next  day  the  committee  having  the  funeral 
in  charge  published  the  following  : 

"  The  committee,  since  the  arrangement  made  by 
the  common  council,  understand  that  several  of  the 
societies  are  anxious  to  join  the  funeral  procession 
of  Capt.  Lawrence  and  Lieut.  Ludlow,  distinct  from 
the  general  invitation  to  all  the  citizens,  do  hereby 
notify  them  that  places  in  the  procession  will  be  as 
signed  to  them,  and  that  punctuality  of  attendance 
at  the  hour  appointed  is  indispensable." 

The  following  military  order  was  at  once  is 
sued  : 


MILITARY  ORDER.  309 

" ARTILLERY  BRIGADE  ORDERS. 

"NEW  YORK,  ^eptf.  14,  1813. 

"  The  remains  of  our  countrymen,  Captain  James 
Lawrence  and  Lieut.  Augustus  C.  Ludlow,  having 
been  brought  to  this  city  for  interment  and  the  com 
mon  council  of  the  city  having  requested  that  military 
honors  should  be  paid  on  the  occasion,  the  several 
corps  of  the  brigade  in  this  city  and  its  vicinity  will 
therefore  parade  on  the  battery  on  Thursday  next, 
the  16th,  in  time  to  form  the  line  at  9  o'clock  A.M. 
precisely ;  those  doing  duty  with  muskets  with 
their  arms,  and  those  attached  to  pieces  and  not  de 
tailed  for  other  purposes,  with  side  arms,  the  light 
artillery  dismounted.  The  officers  will  wear  crape 
on  their  left  arm,  and  mourning  sword  knots.  The 
instruments  of  music  will  be  dressed  with  the  usual 
badge  of  mourning.  The  firing  at  the  grave  will  be 
performed  by  a  detachment  from  the  second  regi 
ment.  Minute  guns  are  to  be  fired  from  the  bat 
tery  during  the  procession.  This  duty  will  be  per 
formed  by  a  detachment  from  the  third  regiment. 

"  Ammunition  will  be  furnished  by  the  brigade 
quartermaster  at  the  arsenal  at  5  o'clock  on  Wed 
nesday  next. 

"  By  order  of  BRIG. -GEN.  MORTON. 

"THOS.  R.  MERCEIN, 

"  Brigade  Major  and  Inspector." 

The  city  felt  and  recognized  the  solemn  presence  of 
death  for  three  days  until  the  last  sad  funeral  rites 
on  the  1 6th,  by  which  the  brave  dead  heroes  were 
committed  to  the  earth.  The  weather  was  fine.  On 
that  day,  at  ten  o'clock,  each  of  the  bodies  were  re 
moved  from  the  war  sloop  Alert  to  a  12-oared  launch 


310  FUNERAL  PROCESSION  OF 

rowed  by  seamen  dressed  in  white,  supported  each 
by  a  barge  with  navy  officers  on  each  side,  preceded 
by  launches,  tw^o  16-oared  and  one  12-oared,  with 
marines,  officers  and  a  band  of  music  as  an  escort. 
Following  the  bodies  were  twelve  barges  belonging 
to  the  navy,  with  seamen  and  officers. 

Capt.  Evans,  of  the  navy,  Avho  had  succeeded 
Capt.  Lawrence  when  he  was  ordered  away  from 
New  York,  was  still  in  command  of  this  naval  sta 
tion. 

Each  coffin  was  covered  with  the  American  flag, 
and  the  hats,  swords  and  pistols  of  the  deceased  ; 
the  colors  half  mast,  the  band  playing  a  solemn 
funeral  dirge,  and  the  rowers  dressed  in  navy  uni 
form.  Minute  guns  were  fired  alternately  from  the 
Alert  and  the  Navy  Yard.  The  bodies  were  landed 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Battery,  and  taken  from  the 
boats  and  placed  on  hearses,  when  they  were  car 
ried  upon  the  battery  park  where  the  artillery  under 
Gen.  Morton,  and  cavalry  under  Major  James  War 
ner,  were  paraded,  with  a  number  of  civic  societies 
to  receive  them.  Minute  guns  from  a  detachment 
of  artillery  near  the  flag- staff,  were  commenced — 
all  flags  were  half  mast,  and  a  general  tolling  of 
bells  begun. 

The  procession  moving  with  funeral  tread*  to  the 
solemn  music  of  "  Koslyu  Castle,"  took  its  way  from 
the  Battery  through  Greenwich  to  Chambers  Street, 
to  Chatham  Street  (now  Park  Row),  to  Broadway 
down  to  Trinity  Church. 

The  procession  moved  in  the  following  order  : 

*The  military  funeral  tread  was  70  steps  to  a  minute.  The 
right  hand  beat  of  the  hass  drum  was  the  guide  to  the  time  of 
planting  the  right  foot. 


MILITARY  AND   CIVIC  SOCIETIES.  311 

The  cavalry,  dismounted. 

The   brigade  of  artillery,  flying  artillery  included, 
standards  and  side  arms,  and  music  in  mourn 
ing  crape — the  Dead  March  playing 

— muffled  drums. 

Society  of  Cincinnati. 

United  States  marines. 

Clergy  of  different  denominations. 

The  body  of  Capt.  Lawrence  carried  by  pall  bearers 

on  foot,  followed  by  sixteen  sailors  with  a  bier. 

The  body  of  Lieut.  Ludlow  carried  and  attended 

in  the  same  manner. 

Eelatives  in  mourning. 

Mayor,  Recorder,  and  Common  Council  escorted 

by  the  city  peace  officers. 

United  States  naval  officers. 

Seamen  of  the  Navy  and  Flotilla. 

United  States  Marines. 

Navy  Agent,  Collector,  United   Sta,tes  District 

Attorney,  Marshal,  etc. 

City  Marine   Society.* 

United  States  military  officers. 

New  York  State  militia  officers  not  on  other  duty. 

The  thirty-one  City  Masonic  Lodges. 

Tammany  Society. 

Columbian  Society. 


*The  Marine  Society  of  the  city  was  a  corporation  the  objects 
of  which  was  to  improve  maritime  knowledge,  and  to  relieve  in 
digent  and  distressed  masters  of  vessels  and  their  wives  and 
orphans.  It  was  of  high  standing  at  that  time.  Capt.  Law 
rence  was  a  member. 


312  CEREMONIES  AT  TRINITY 

Hamilton  Society. 

Washington  Benevolent  Society. 

(The  banners  and  insignia  of  the  societies  were 

shrouded  in  crape.     Mourning  badges  were 

worn  by  the  members  of  each 

society,    etc.) 

Citizens. 

The  procession  was  three  hours  in  passing  a  given 
point.  It  was  more  compact  than  those  usual  at 
the  present  day. 

The  concourse  of  spectators  who  witnessed  this 
interesting  and  impressive  exhibition  was  estimated 
to  be  about  thirty  thousand  persons.  The  streets 
were  crowded  and  the  windows  full  and  many 
roofs  covered  with  citizens  viewing  the  grand  and 
solemn  spectacle. 

The  bodies  of  the  heroes  were  met  at  the  entrance 
of  the  church  portal  on  Broadway  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Thomas  Y.  How,  assistant  rector  of  Trinity  parish, 
who  preceded  the  cortege,  on  entering  the  church, 
repeating  in  a  loud  voice  the  words, "  I  am  the  resur 
rection  and  the  life  " — the  beginning  of  the  order  of 
burial  service  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
After  the  entrance  the  anthem  was  sung,  followed  by 
the  reading  of  the- usual  lesson  by  Dr.  How.  After 
this  elegiac  verses  composed  for  the  occasion  by 
Francis  Arden,  Esq.,  were  sung  by  the  choir.  Then 
the  bodies  were  removed  to  the  grave  prepared  for 
them  on  the  west  side  of  the  churchyard,  directly 
west  of  the  portico  on  the  south  side  of  the  church. 
While  at  the  grave,  when  the  corpses  were  being 
made  ready  to  be  laid  in  the  grave,  and  the  removal 
of  the  hats,  swords  and  pistols  of  the  deceased  from 


.AND  AT  THE  GRAVE.    .  313 

the  coffins  (the  American  flags  that  were  wrapped 
around  them  were  allowed  to  remain),  Dr.  How 
proceeded  with  that  part  of  the  burial  service  pre 
scribed  to  be  said  at  the  grave.  After  the  grave 
was  filled  and  the  church  ceremony  completed,  the 
long  roll  of  the  drums  was  sounded,  and  a  volley  of 
musketry  was  fired  over  it  by  the  detachment  se 
lected  from  the  second  regiment  for  that  purpose, 
and  the  "taps"  of  the  drums  were  sounded,  and 
the  crowd  slowly  dispersed,  as  the  tolling  of  the  bells 
ceased.* 

The  colors  of  the  public  and  private  shipping  in 
the  harbor  and  on  the  public  buildings  and  at  the 
different  fortifications  were  set  at  half  mast  from 
sunrise  to  sunset.  No  accident  or  mishap  occurred 
among  the  multitudes  on  the  land  and  water,  who 
were  out  on  the  occasion. 

Among  the  marines  in  the  procession  were  some 
of  the  crew  of  the  Hornet  that  were  with  Capt. 
Lawrence  when  he  captured  the  Peacock.  The  Hor 
net  was  still  held  in  New  London  harbor  by  the 


*  In  1816  the  city  corporation  erected  a  monument  in  Trinity 
Churchyard  over  the  remains  of  Capt.  Lawrence  and  Lieut.  Lud- 
low.  It  was  a  broken  column  of  white  marble  of  the  Ionic  order, 
the  capital  broken  off  and  lying-  on  the  base.  The  slabs  at  the 
base  of  the  column  bore  elaborate  and  appropriate  inscriptions 
to  their  deeds  and  memory.  In  1847  the  remains  of  Capt.  Law 
rence  and  Lieut.  Ludlow  were  removed  to  near  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  church,  near  the  front  entrance  of  the  yard  on 
Broadway,  on  the  left,  and  the  monolith  now  standing-  over 
the  graves  was  then  erected  there  by  the  city.  The  marble  slab 
placed  by  the  city  over  the  grave  in  1816  may  be  seen  at  the 
rooms  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  where  it  was  taken 
for  preservation  at  the  suggestion  and  instance  of  Benson  J. 
Lossing.  Esq.,  the  popular  historian,  and  author  of  "Pictorial 
Field  Book  of  the  War  of  1812,"  and  many  other  works. 

Capt.  Lawrence's  wife  survived  him  for  many  years.  She  died 
on  Sept.  15,  1865,  and  her  remains  were  placed  beside  those  of 
her  husband,  a  few  days  afterwards,  where  they  now  repose. 


314  ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE 

British  blockading  squadron,  but  the  crew  could  go 
elsewhere. 

The  presence  of  the  enemy's  vessels  about  Sandy 
Hook  prevented  the  military  forces  stationed  about 
the  ports  in  the  bay  and  at  the  Narrows  from  tak 
ing  only  a  little  part  in  the  procession. 

From  the  best  information  that  can  be  obtained, 
and  from  calculations,  the  writer  estimates  that  the 
procession  contained  about  six  thousand  persons 
walking  four  abreast. 

The  Masons  were  the  largest  body  in  the  proces 
sion.  There  were  probably  about  fifteen  hundred 
in  number  from  thirty-one  lodges  and  chapters. 

Any  person  viewing  the  funeral  procession  or  the 
evidences  of  grief  and  sorrow  displayed  on  that 
occasion  by  the  various  societies  and  classes  it  con 
tained,  must  be  struck  by  the  apparent  harmony 
that  prevailed  on  that  occasion. 

There  was  the  Tammany  Society  and  the  Wash 
ington  Benevolent  Society,  the  Columbian  and  the 
Hamilton,  and  other  discordant  bodies  all  marching 
in  line  and  keeping  step  together  to  the  music  of  a 
funeral  dirge. 

The  exhibition  is  still  more  wonderful  w^hen  we 
remember  the  discords  and  diversities  that  pre 
vailed  among  them  only  a  few  weeks  before  in  the 
celebration  of  the  4th  of  July. 

As  soon  as  the  announcement  was  made  by  the 
committee,  of  the  order  of  the  procession  and  the 
general  invitation  of  citizens  to  join  in  the  proces 
sion,  several  societies  hastened  to  the  committee  at 
once  to  have  a  place  assigned  them.  One  of  the 
first  that  did  this  was  the  Tammany  Society.  They 
foresaw  the  troubles  that  might  arise  and  the  pub- 


CIVIC  SOCIETIES.  315 


lie  disgrace  that  might  follow  on  the   occasion  if 
some  declined  to  appear  because  others  were  there. 

On  the  1 5th  the  Tammany  Society  issued  the  fol 
lowing  : 

' i  BROTHERS  :  You  are  once  more  called  upon  to 
exhibit  the  public  testimonials  of  respect  to  the  he 
roic  dead.  Local  or  party  distinctions  find  no  place 
in  the  bosom  of  a  single  son  of  the  heroic  Tammany 
on  this  occasion. 

6  i  The  society  are  specially  requested  to  attend  at 
Tammany  Hall  to-morrow  morning  precisely  at  nine 
o'clock,  with  their  usual  badge  of  mourning  for 
departed  heroes  slain  in  battle,  viz.,  a  red  ribbon 
edged  with  black  worn  on  the  left  arm.  The 
design  is  to  join  the  other  societies  in  solemnizing 
the  tribute  of  funeral  respect  to  those  heroes,  Ca/pt. 
James  Lawrence  and  Lieut.  Augustus  C.  Ludlow, 
who  fell  gloriously  in  defending  their  country's 
right  and  the  national  honor. 

"  The  bodies  will  arrive  at  the  Battery  precisely  at 
10  o'clock  under  the  direction  of  the  honorable  cor 
poration  of  the  city.. 

"By  order  of  the  president, 

' '  JAMES  W.  LENT, 
"  BENJ.  EOMAINE, 
"  ABRAHAM  STAGG, 
"  Committee  of  Arrangements." 

Kepresentatives  of  several  societies  gave  notice 
that  they  would  meet  on  the  evening  of  the  15th  and 
assign  places  in  the  procession  to  such  societies  as 
desired  to  take  part  as  distinct  organizations.  This 
was  more  difficult  because  Capt.  Lawrence  was  a 
member  of  the  Cincinnati  Society,  the  City  Marine 


316  EMBLEMS  OF  MOURNING. 

Society,  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  some  of 
the  other  societies,  and  those  claimed  preferences 
ahead  of  other  organizations  of  citizens.  On  that 
evening  the  representatives  assigned  those  that  had 
applied  in  the  following  order  among  citizens  :  Ma 
sons,  City  Marine,  Tammany,  Hatters,  Washington, 
Columbian.  But  this  was  not  satisfactory,  and  by. 
looking  at  the  order  of  the  procession  as  it  occurred 
at  the  funeral,  it  can  be  seen  that  subsequent 
changes  were  made  and  one  society  at  least,  the 
Hatters,  did  not  appear  in  the  procession. 

The  two  brigades  of  infantry  militia  did  not 
appear  in  the  procession,  probably  because  so  many 
of  their  ranks  belonged  to  the  Masons  and  other 
societies.  The  officers  of  the  tenth  brigade  appeared 
together  in  the  procession. 

Nearly  all  of  the  members  of  societies  wore  badges 
of  mourning.  Those  of  which  the  deceased  had 
been  a  member  wore  the  mourning  badge  usual  on 
the  loss  of  a  member. 

The  Washington  Benevolent  Society  carried  its 
banner  shrouded  in  black  at  the  head  of  the  society. 
The  members  of  that  society  wore  their  badges 
with  a  small  black  rosette  near  the  top. 

The  Hamilton  Society  members  wore  a  black  ro 
sette  near  the  top  of  their  badge. 

Tammany  Society  did  not  carry  any  banner,  but 
appeared  in  the  plain  manner  specified  in  the  order 
before  given. 

The  committee  of  arrangements,  the  mayor,  re 
corder,  common  council  and  clergy,  met  in  the  rooms 
of  the  Historical  Society  in  the  Government  House, 
opposite  Bowling  Green,  and  started  from  there  in 
the  funeral  procession. 


."DON'T  GIVE   UP  THE  SHIP."  317 

The  military  and  societies  formed  in  the  side 
streets  near  the  Battery  and  on  Broadway,  and 
marched  so  as  to  fall  in  the  procession  as  it  left  the 
Battery,  and  proceeded  up  Greenwich  Street. 

On  the  19th  day  of  September  the  new  sloop-of- 
war  Peacock  was  launched  from  the  yard  of  Adam 
and  Noah  Brown.  She  was  built  in  seventy -two 
working  days,  and  made  to  carry  twenty-four  guns — 
twenty- two  32-pound  carronades  and  two  long  18s. 
She  was  then  placed  in  command  of  Capt.  Warring- 
ton.  The  greater  part  of  her  crew  were  the  brave 
fellows  who,  while  under  Capt.  Lawrence,  sunk  her 
namesake— they  were  the  former  crew  of  the  Hor 
net,  which  was  still  held  in  New  London  harbor  by 
the  British  blockading  squadron,  but  nearly  all  her 
crew  could  be  assigned  for  service  elsewhere. 

Although  the  bodies  were  dead  the  souls  of  those 
heroes  were  marching  on  to  victory.  "  Don't  give 
up  to  the  ship  "  had  been  wafted  over  the  land  and 
broad  ocean  wave,  wherever  the  American  flag  was 
known.  While  the  remains  were  being  brought  to 
New  York,  four  days  before  their  arrival  here, 
Commodore  Perry,  on  Lake  Erie,  had  named  his 
flag  ship  Lawrence,  and  had  inscribed  on  his  battle 
flag  the  motto  "  Don't  give  up  the  ship." 

The  battle  of  Lake  Erie  had  been  fought  and 
won  011  the  10th  of  September,  while  the  funeral 
cortege  bearing  Lawrence's  body  was  wending  its 
way  through  the  land  to  its  final  resting-place. 
His  brave  soul  seemed  to  actuate  his  countrymen 
to  deeds  of  patriotism  and  victory.  "  Don't  give 
up  the  ship  "  was  their  motto  in  every  battle  by  sea 
or  land. 

It  was  a  few  days  after  the  funeral  of  Lawrence 


318  COM.  PERRY'S  VICTORY, 

and  Ludlow,  on  the  22d  of  September,  that  the  joy 
ful  news  of  Perry's  victory  was  known  in  New 
York.  It  came  by  the  way  of  Pittsburgh  ;  then  the 
tears  and  sorrow  were  turned  into  joy  and  glad 
ness. 

On  the  24th,  as  a  demonstration  of  joy  on  the  in 
telligence  of  the  victory  on  Lake  Erie,  at  noon  a 
national  salute  was  fired  from  the  navy  yard,  from 
the  Alert,  from  the  gunboats  off  the  Battery,  from 
the  revenue  cutter  and  from  Castle  William.  Com. 
Lewis  dressed  his  schooner  handsomely  in  the  col 
ors,  and  the  chimes  of  Trinity  church  rang  a  merry 
peal  and  nags  were  displayed  on  the  different 
public  edifices. 

The  various  places  of  public  amusement  attested 
and  proved  the  public  feeling  in  the  evening  on  the 
news  of  Perry's  victory. 

The  State  Society  of  Cincinnati  voted  that  he  be 
admitted  an  honorary  member  thereof  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1814  (see  ante  p.  208,  note). 

On  the  4th  of  October,  the  recorder,  Mr.  Hoff 
man,  presented  the  following  resolutions  to  the 
common  council  which  were  unanimously  agreed 
to: 

"  The  common  council  have  received  with  feel 
ings  of  no  ordinary  interest  intelligence  of  the  recent 
achievement  of  Com.  Perry  on  Lake  Erie,  an 
achievement  which,  while  it  confirms  the  charac 
ter  for  valor  hitherto  sustained  by  our  brave  tars, 
evinces  the  nautical  skill  of  our  naval  commanders. 
It  would  ill  comport  with  the  high  sense  which  this 
brilliant  deed  has  afforded  to  the  common  council 
of  the  city  of  New  York  were  they  to  pass  it  over 
in  silence. 


ACTION  OF  THE  CITY  COUNCIL.  319 

"  In  testimony,  therefore,  of  the  high  sense  which 
the  common  council  entertain  of  the  valor  and  skill 
displayed  by  Com.  Perry  in  his  late  discomfiture 
and  capture  of  the  whole  of  the  British  fleet  on  the 
waters  of  Lake  Erie, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  freedom  of  the  city  be  pre 
sented  to  Com.  Perry  in  a  gold  box,  and  that  he  be 
requested  to  sit  for  his  portrait  to  be  placed  in  the 
gallery  of  portraits  of  the  common  council. 

; '  Resolved,  also,  That  the  thanks  of  the  common 
council  be  presented  to  the  gallant  officers  and  crew 
of  the  fleet  under  his  command  who  achieved  this 
victory  so  honorable  to  the  rising  navy  of  our  coun 
try. 

"Resolved,  That  his  honor,  the  Mayor,  be  re 
quested  to  transmit  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  to 
Com.  Perry  and  that  the  recorder,  Mr.  Smith,  and 
Mr.  King  be  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  the 
said  resolutions  into  effect." 

The  public  feeling  was  such  that  an  opportunity 
for  a  popular  demonstration  of  joy  to  be  abundantly 
expressed  was  inevitable.  The  most  popular  and 
hearty  mode  of  celebrating  victories  at  that  time 
was  by  the  illumination  of  buildings  in  the  evening. 
Many  of  the  societies  and  places  of  amusements, 
large  halls,  hotels,  and  public  buildings  had  designat 
ed  this  to  be  done  on  the  evening  of  the  23d  of  Octo 
ber.  The  common  council  waited  until  the  last  to  fall 
in  with  this  mode  of  celebration,  because  they  deemed 
it  unsafe  to  the  city,  as  it  had  a  tendency  to  produce 
fires,  and  they  had  several  times  requested  citizens 
to  refrain  from  this  mode  of  celebrating  a  victory. 
But  now  the  popular  demand  was  too  powerful  to 
withstand,  so  on  the  22d  the  following  resolutions, 


320  GRAND  ILLUMINATION. 

presented  to  the  common  council  by  Mr.  King,  were 
unanimously  adopted  : 

6 '  Resolved,  That  in  celebration  of  the  brilliant 
victory  achieved  by  Com.  0.  H.  Perry,  on  Lake 
Erie,  and  the  important  successes  of  Gen.  Harrison 
resulting  in  a  great  measure  therefrom,  the  City 
Hall  of  this  city  be  illuminated  on  Saturday  evening 
next  from  the  hours  of  seven  until  ten  o'clock. 

"Resolved,  That  Alderman  Mesier,  Mr.  Smith 
and  Mr.  King  be  a  committee  to  carry  the  above 
resolution  into  effect." 

This  was  the  first  time  since  the  war  commenced 
that  there  had  been  an  illumination  of  the  public 
buildings  or  a  general  illumination  because  of  any 
victory  by  sea  or  land.* 

On  that  evening  the  City  Hall  front  was  lighted  at 
every  window  from  basement  to  cupola.  The  illu 
mination  consisted  of  placing  several  rows  of  light 
ed  candles  in  regular  order  at  each  pane  of  glass  in 
every  window,  f  Tammany  Hall,  Washington  Hall, 
and  Mechanic's  Hall,  the  Custom  House,  the  differ 
ent  hotels,  public  houses  and  markets,  the  debtor's 

*  Illuminations  of  this  kind  were  frequently  given  in  Europe 
and  America  about  those  times  to  celebrate  a  great  event. 
London  was  illuminated  to  celebrate  the  victory  of  the  Shannon 
over  the  Chesapeake.  This  was  the  first  time  the  new  City  Hall, 
as  it  was  then  called,  was  illuminated.  The  last  time  it  was  il 
luminated  was  in  September,  1858,  to  celebrate  the  completion 
of  the  laying  of  the  Atlantic  ocean  telegraph  cable. 

f  The  panes  of  glass  in  the  windows  of  the  City  Hall  were  of 
the  same  size  as  at  the  present  time  (1889).  They  were  four 
panes  broad  and  from  four  to  eight  panes  high- -the  second  story 
having  the  tallest  windows.  In  a  similar  illumination  of  the 
City  Hall  it  consisted  of  a  total  of  1,542  wax  candles  and  about 
450  lamps,  giving  effect  to  the  transparencies,  and  310  variegated 
lamps.  These  latter  were  placed  on  the  outside  along  the  edge 
of  the  roof  and  about  the  cupola  and  over  each  window  and 
door,  and  around  the  balcony  and  portico  ;  some  were  in  arches 
and  others  in  lines  appropriately  and  effectively  arranged. 


OF  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS.  321 

prison,  and  many  private  houses  joined  in  the  bril 
liant  display  of  like  illumination. 

The  transparent  naval  paintings  used  in  the 
former  celebrations  in  the  City  Hotel  were  displayed 
at  the  City  Hall  front  with  the  addition  of  others 
representing  the  two  hostile  fleets  on  Lake  Erie  and 
the  motto  :  "  Don't  give  up  the  Ship." 

A  full  band  of  music  was  placed  on  the  balcony  of 
the  portico  of  the  City  Hall,  and  performed  many 
popular  pieces  during  the  illumination. 

At  Tammany  Hall,  over  the  front,  was  a  trans 
parency  painted  by  Holland,  representing  the  Indian 
chiefs  surrendering  to  Gen.  Harrison  and  soliciting 
peace  ;  also  a  view  of  Commodore  Perry  at  the  bat 
tle  of  Lake  Erie. 

On  the  front  of  the  Park  Theater  was  a  transpar 
ent  painting  representing  the  American  eagle 
spreading  over  a  considerable  portion  of  the  globe, 
and  pointing  with  his  beak  to  the  motto  from  Per 
ry's  famous  despatch:  " We  have  met  the  enemy 
and  they  are  ours. "  The  front  was  also  ornamented 
by  variegated  lamps.  The  naval  panorama  building, 
next  adjoining  the  theater,  exhibited  a  mechanical 
transparency  representing  in  continual  and  rapid 
motion  a  hornet  striking  a  peacock  on  its  breast, 
and  other  devices  and  descriptions. 

At  the  debtor's  prison  (now  Hall  of  Records)  ap 
peared  in  letters  of  fire  "  We  have  met  the  enemy," 
etc.,  and  "Go  ye  and  do  likewise." 

From  the  Battery  was  seen  two  of  Commodore 
Lewis'  gunboats  superbly  decorated  with  lamps  of 
various  colors.  His  barge  was  ornamented  with 
patriotic  transparencies  and  in  the  course  of  the 


322  EFFEGT  OF  PERRY'S  AND 

evening  a  discharge  of  rockets  from  his  boat  enliv 
ened  the  scene. 

The  bells  throughout  the  city  were  rung  and  sa 
lutes  fired  from  all  the  forts,  from  the  navy  yard 
and  the  flotilla. 

The  demonstrations  of  joy  were  equally  hearty 
all  over  the  country.  The  reason  for  it  will  be 
apparent  when  we  reflect  that  Perry's  victory  was 
the  first  victory  of  importance  that  the  Americans 
had  won  in  the  war,  and  in  connection  with  Har 
rison's  victory  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  the  two 
must  ever  be  regarded  as  giving  the  best  assurance 
to  the  people  of  the  confidence  they  were  to  repose 
in  the  military  achievements  of  their  country 
men. 

It  was  remarked  at  the  time  "that  victories  like 
those,  which  gave  security  and  repose  to  two  hun 
dred  thousand  families,  who  had  a  week  before 
never  went  to  sleep  with  the  certainty  of  escaping 
conflagration  or  the  tomahawk  until  morning,  was 
a  true  occasion  for  rejoicing." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  British  Parliament  in  No 
vember,  1813,  the  Prince  Eegent  addressed  them  on 
affairs  in  America  as  well  as  in  Europe.  On  the 
motion  for  addresses  in  answer  to  the  Prince  in  the 
House  of  Lords,  Lord  Compton  said  :  "  He  would 
now  turn  to  the  new  world. 

1 1  She  had  already  been  roused  from  her  dream  of 
maritime  superiority  by  the  thunder  of  the  Shan 
non  ;  and  when  she  saw  the  heroic  and  successful 
resistance  of  Canada,  when  she  found  her  com 
merce  annihilated,  her  ports  blockaded,  her  armies 
captured  and  destroyed,  she  must  perceive  the  inu- 
tility  of  her  efforts  to  injure  our  power  ;  and,  with 


GEN.  HARRISON'S  VICTORIES.  323 

the  declining  fortunes  of  France,  her  blindness  must 
dissipate,  her  eyes  open  to  the  light,  and  her  mind 
to  wisdom." 

This  speech  was  made  before  the  news  of  Perry's 
victory  on  Lake  Erie  was  published  in  England. 


:  CHAPTEE  XVII. 

Major-Gen.  Dearborn  Placed  in  Command  at  New  York — Sketch 
of  Gen.  Dearborn — British  War  Vessels  about  the  Narrows — 
Target  Practice  by  Artillery — Gunboat  Skirmish — Close  of 
the  Campaign  of  1813— Last  Military  Parade  of  the  Season — 
Sketch  of  Gen.  Morton — Evacuation  Day  Celebration — Troops 
In  Service. 

the '20th  of  October,  Major-Gen. 
Henry  Dearborn  arrived  in  the  city 
to  take  command  of  the  third  mili 
tary  district,  comprising  New  York 
city  and  vicinity,  to  supersede  Gen. 
Izard.  Col.  James  House,  of  the 
United  States  artillery,  was  in  com 
mand  at  Governor's  Island,  and  he 
fired  a  salute  from  Castle  William  in  honor  of  the 
arrival  of  Maj-Gen.  Dearborn.  This  salute  was  fif 
teen  guns  and  was  from  twelve-pounders.  A  brig 
adier-general  commanding  a  district  was  entitled 
to  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns.  No  person  was  to  be 
saluted  only  on  his  arrival  at  a  post. 

Gen.  Dearborn  was  then  the  senior  Major- Gen 
eral  in  the  United  States  army,  and  by  the  regula 
tions  was  the  General-in-chief  of  all  the  armies  of 
the  United  States.* 

*  HENRY  DEARBORN  was  'a  veteran  of  the  Revolution.  He 
was  born  in  Hampton,  N.  H,,  in  March,  1751 ;  studied  medicine 
and  had  been  settled  three  years  in  Nottingham  Square,  when, 
on  the  20th  of  April,  1775,  an  express  announced  the  battle  of 
Lexington  on  the  previous  day.  The  militia  had  already  gath 
ered,  and  armed  and  accoutred  they  proceeded  the  same  day  to 
Cambridge,  with  Dearborn,  a  distance  of  sixty-five  miles  in 
wenty  hours.  On  the  return  he  was  appointed  a  captain  in 


DEATH  OF  GEN.  DEARBORN.  325 

The  day  of  General  Dearborn's  arrival,  the  enemy 
again  appeared  in  Long  Island  Sound  near  New 
York,  and  took  and  burnt  a  few  small  vessels. 
Com.  Lewis,  with  his  flotilla  tof  gunboats,  left  his 
station  at  New  York  on  the  25th  of  October  to  repel 
them.  They  had  withdrawn  and  he  returned  to  his 
station. 

On  the  31st  of  October  the  third  regiment  United 
States  volunteers  under  Lieut. -Col.  Denniston,  sta 
tioned  at  Fort  Gates  at  Sandy  Hook,  and  the  ma 
rines  of  the  gunboat  flotilla  were  reviewed  and  in 
spected  by  Major-Gen.  Dearborn,  and  Inspector- Gen. 
Gray,  with  a  number  of  other  officers  of  the  district. 
Gen.  Dearborn  was  much  gratified  with  their  gen 
eral  discipline  and  expertness,  and  the  flotilla  corps, 

Col.  Stark's  regiment.  He  was  with  his  company  at  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  In  September  he  accompanied  Arnold  in  the 
expedition  to  Quebec.  More  than  a  month  was  consumed  in 
the  wilderness  before  they  reached  the  first  house  in  Canada,  on 
Nov.  4th.  The  suffering-  and  hardships  endured  on  this  expedi 
tion  seem  almost  incredible.  Capt.  Dearborn  was  seized  with  a 
fever  and  left  behind,  but  joined  his  company  in  December  at 
Point  Levi.  In  the  assault  on  the  city  of  Quebec  on  December 
31st,  he  and  his  company  were  taken  prisoners  by  Capt.  Law. 
In  May.  1776,  was  paroled  and  in  March,  1777,  was  exchanged. 
He  was  appointed  a  major  in  Col.  Samuels'  New  Hampshire  reg 
iment,  and  in  May  proceeded  to  Ticonderoga,  and  participated 
in  the  battles  around  Saratoga  in  1777.  He  did  great  service  at 
that  time  and  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  a  picked  corps 
of  three  hundred  men  and  placed  in  front,  in  concert  with  Mor 
gan's  riflemen,  at  the  battle  of  Stillwater.  He  was  then  in  Gen. 
Arnold's  division  ;  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Bourgoyne  in 
October.  The  next  winter  he  passed  at  Valley  Forge  with  the 
main  army  under  Gen.  Washington  in  person  ;  was  at  the  battle 
of  Monmouth  in  June,  1778.  He  accompanied  Gen.  Sullivan  in 
his  expedition  against  the  six  nations  of  Indians  in  the  State  of 
New  York  in  1779,  and  in  the  battle  at  Newtown  (now  Elmira) 
was  attached  to  Gen.  Poor's  brigade.  When  the  treason  of 
Arnold  transpired,  he  was  stationed  at  We'st  Point,  and  was 
officer  of  the  day  at  the  execution  of  Major  Andre.  He  was  at 
the  seige  and  surrender  of  Yorktown  in  1781.  During  1782  was 
on  garrison  duty  at  the  frontier  posts  on  Lake  Cham  plain. 
After  the  peace,  emigrated  in  1784  to  the  banks  of  the  Kennebec 


326  REVIEW  AT  SANDY  HOOK. 

consisting  of  about  500  men,  received  his  warm  and 
hearty  approbation.  At  his  landing  a  salute  was 
fired  from  the  fort  and  another  at  his  departure. 

The  forty-second  United  States  infantry  was  rap 
idly  being  recruited  in  the  city,  in  charge  of  Lieut.  - 
Col.  Forbes.  This  was  under  the  law  of  Congress 
of  July  last,  by  which  five  regiments  could  be  formed 
and  limited  as  to  service,  to  the  defence  of  such 
ports  of  the  seaboard  as  the  president  should  elect. 
This  regiment  was  one  located  for  the  defence  of 
New  York  during  the  war. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  when  the  enemy's 
vessels  came  down  Long  Island  Sound  on  the  8th 
of  September  a1  battalion  of  Westchester  County 
militia  was  ordered  out  by  Gen.  Stevens.  After 


and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  Was  appointed  marshal 
of  Maine  in  1789,  and  was  twice  elected  to  Cong-ress.  Was 
appointed  secretary  of  war  by  President  Jefferson  in  180!,  which 
he  held  for  eight  years ;  was  then,  1809,  appointed  collector  of 
the  port  of  Boston  by  Mr.  Madison,  which  office  he  held  until  he 
was  appointed,  in  January,  1812,  major-general  in  the  army  of 
the  United  States.  This  appointment  placed  him  at  the  head  of 
the  army  and  its  general-in-chief.  He  soon  proceeded  to  Wash 
ington  and  assumed  the  command  in  Febuary  following. 

In  May  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  northern  division  of 
the  army  and  proceeded  to  Albany  and  elsewhere  north,  and  was 
on  the  Niagara  frontier  during  the  early  part  of  the  campaign 
there  in  1813.  He  captured  York  (now  Toronto)  and  Fort  George 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  river.  In  conseqnence  of  some  dis 
agreement  with  Gen.  Morgan  Lewis  (which  was  attributed  in 
part  to  the  illness  of  Gen.  Dearborn),  in  July  he  received  orders 
from  the  secretary  of  war  to  retire  from  the  command  of  that 
district  and  the  troops  there  "until  his  health  shall  be  estab 
lished  and  until  further  orders,"  with  which  he  complied  about 
the  middle  of  July.  Was,  in  October,  ordered  to  assume  com 
mand  of  the  military  district  of  New  York  city  and  arrived 
here,  as  before  stated,  and  took  command  and  continued  here 
until  the  spring  of  1814,  when  he  was  superseded.  He  contin 
ued  nominally  the  general-in-chief  of  the  United  States  army 
until  he  was  among  the  disbanded,  and  retired  on  June  15,  1815. 
He  was  afterwards  minister  to  Portugal  in  1822.  Died  at  Rox- 
bury,  Mass.,  June  6,  1829. 


COMPLIMENTS  TO  COL.   WILLIAMS.  32 7 

they  were  discharged  and  applied  for  their  pay  Gen. 
Fenwick,  the  adjutant-general  in  United  States 
army,  stated  to  Gen.  Stevens  that  there  was  no 
authority  for  the  payment  of  them  by  the  general 
government.  Gen.  Stevens  communicated  this  to 
the  common  council  of  the  city  and  it  was  by  them 
referred  to  their  committee  of  defence. 

We  have  before  seen  that  Col.  Jonathan  Wil 
liams  resigned  from  the  army  in  July,  1812  (ante, 
p.  108).  After  this  his  advice  was  sought  by 
the  common  council  committee  of  defence.  The 
value  of  his  service  in  the  construction  of  the  forti 
fications  for  this  port  before  the  war  were  always 
before  the  people,  and  it  was  deemed  proper  that 
some  public  recognition  should  be  made. 

On  the  first  of  November  Alderman  Mesier  offered 
the  following  resolution,  which  was  unanimously 
agreed  to : 

"  The  common  council  in  consideration  of  the 
high  sense  they  entertain  of  the  important  services 
rendered  to  this  city  by  Col.  Jonathan  Williams  in 
preparing  and  executing  plans  of  defence  for  this 
port,  and  as  an  evidence  of  the  distinguished  es 
teem  they  entertain  for  his  character  and  profes 
sional  talents, 

"Resolved,  that  he  be  requested  to  sit  for  his 
likeness  to  be  preserved  in  the  gallery  of  portraits 
belonging  to  the  city,  and  that  the  clerk  of  the 
common  council  be  authorized  to  see  this  resolution 
carried  into  effect." 

At  the  next  meeting  the  following  letter  from 
Col.  Williams  was  read  : 


328  COL.   WILLIAMS'  EEPLT. 

"NEW  YORK,  Nov.  3,  1813. 

"  Sir  : — I  have  had  the  honor  of  receiving  an  ex 
tract  from  the  minutes  of  the  common  council  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  dated  the  1st  inst.,  by 
which  it  appears  they  have  not  only  favored  me 
with  the  most  nattering  approbation  of  the  works 
of  defence  which  it  has  been  my  fortunate  lot  to 
erect  on  the  borders  of  this  harbor,  but  have  also 
requested  me  to  sit  for  my  likeness  to  be  preserved 
in  the  gallery  of  portraits  in  this  city. 

"The  usual  expressions  of  thanks  for  marks  of 
distinction  and  acquiescence  in  honorable  intentions 
would  fall  far  short  of  a  description  of  my  feelings 
on  this  occasion  ;  for  my  attachment  to  this  city  in 
everything  that  can  relate  to  its  safety,  honor  and 
prosperity,  is  so  interwoven  with  the  most  respect 
ful  and  affectionate  regard  for  your  honorable  and 
patriotic  corporation  and  citizens  individually,  as 
well  as  collectively,  that  I  can  only  say  that  my 
gratitude  will  have  no  other  bounds  than  my  exis 
tence. 

' '  As  you  have  been  the  official  organ  of  the  com 
munication  permit  me  to  ask  you  to  be  the  means 
of  conveying  my  answer  to  it. 

"I  am,  etc., 

"  JONA.  WILLIAMS. 

U.J.  MORTON, 

11  Clerk  Common  Council." 

A  portrait  of  Col.  Jonathan  Williams,  painted  by 
Sully,  was  subsequently  placed  in  the  governor's 
room  in  the  City  Hall. 

Gen.  Dearborn  was  well  received  in  New  York, 
and  the  militia  vied  with  the  regular  army  in  ex- 


AETILLERT  TARGET  PRACTICE.  329 

hibiting  their  discipline  and  skill  as  well  as  ardor 
for  the  defence  of  their  country. 

Gen.  Morton  issued  the  following  order  for  artil 
lery  review  and  target  practice  : 

"  FIRST  BRIGADE,  N.  Y.  S.  ARTILLERY. 
"  BRIGADE  ORDERS. 

"NEW  YORK,  Nov.  J,  1813. 

aThe  several  regiments  of  this  brigade  in  this  city 
and  its  vicinity,  will  parade  at  the  Battery  on  the 
3d  inst.,  the  line  to  be  formed  at  10  o'clock  A.M., 
and  reviewed  by  the  Major-General  at  half  past  ten. 

1  i  The  hulk  which  has  been  prepared  as  a  target 
for  practice,  will  be  anchored  in  the  stream  at  the 
distance  of  one  thousand  yards  from  the  Battery, 
and  the  firing  will  commence  at  12  o'clock.  Four 
batteries,  one  of  which  will  consist  of  eleven  12- 
pounders  and  the  other  three  of  four  13-pounders 
each,  will  be  established  and  assigned,  one  to  each  of 
the  regiments.  The  major  of  brigade  will  attend  at 
the  flagstaff  on  Tuesday  afternoon  at  four  o'clock, 
and  will  assign  to  the  commandants  the  battery  they 
are  to  direct.  They  will  see  that  the  cannon  and 
their  necessary  implements  are  at  the  respective 
batteries  in  due  season.  The  brigade  quartermas 
ter  will  attend  at  the  arsenal  this  afternoon  at  three 
o'clock  to  deliver  the  requisite  ammunition. 

' i  As  the  troops  are  on  this  occasion  to  exhibit 
their  skill  in  gunnery,  they  will  fire  with  delibera 
tion  and  in  succession  from  right  to  left,  the  left  gun 
always  to  wait  until  the  right  has  fired. 

c '  As  it  may  be  necessary  from  circumstances  to 
direct  the  firing  to  cease,  an  orderly  drum  is  to  be 
stationed  at  each  battery  and  will  repeat  any  signal 


330  MILITARY  REVIEW  AND 

which  may  be  given  from  the  right.  Some  shells 
will  be  thrown  from  a  mortar  and  howitzer  under 
the  direction  of  the  General,  aided  by  some  files  de 
tached  for  that  purpose  by  the  brigade  major  on  the 
ground. 

"  By  order  of  GEN.  MORTON. 

"  THOS.  K.  MERCEIN,  Brigade  Major." 

The  following  account  of  it  was  written  at  the 
time : 

"  In  pursuance  of  brigade  orders,  that  part  of 
Gen.  Morton's  brigade  of  State  artillery  stationed  in 
this  city  yesterday  paraded  on  the  Battery  to  fire  at 
the  hulk  of  a  small  vessel  prepared  as  a  target  for 
that  purpose.  The  line  was  formed  at  eleven 
o'clock,  and  was  reviewed  by  Maj.-Gen.  Dearborn. 
The  troops  sustained  their  former  high  reputation 
for  orderly  conduct  and  soldier-like  appearance. 
At  twelve  o'clock  the  target  was  anchored  opposite 
the  Battery,  in  a  range  with  the  quarantine  ground, 
about  1,000  yards  distant.  The  firing  commenced 
on  the  right,  and  was  continued  in  regular  succes 
sion  from  right  to  left  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  during 
which  time  both  masts  were  carried  away,  the  sides 
of  the  vessel  were  much  splintered,  and  the  hulk 
bored  through  in  several  places.  At  the  eighty- 
eighth  shot  she  sunk.  Of  the  number  of  shot 
(about  ninety)  which  were  fired,  it  is  computed  that 
fifty  struck  the  vessel ;  and  it  was  universally  be 
lieved  that  had  a  ship  of  war  been  the  object, 
instead  of  a  vessel  of  60  tons,  nearly  every  shot 
would  have  done  execution. 

"The  experiment  did  great  honor  to  the  brigade, 
and  afforded  to  our  citizens  (thousands  of  whom 


ARTILLERY  TARGET  PRACTICE.  331 

were  assembled  to  witness  it)  proof  of  the  utility 
and  efficiency  of  a  well  regulated  militia  corps. 

*  %  #  -X-  #  # 

"  It  gives  us  great  satisfaction  further  to  add, 
that  every  facility  towards  completing  the  experi 
ment  was  afforded  by  Gen.  Dearborn,  commanding 
this  station,  and  by  Col.  Platt,  State  commissioner 
of  military  stores. 

"  Com.  Lewis  and  Capt.  Jones,  of  the  United 
States  flotilla,  rendered  essential  service  by  having 
the  target  moored  in  a  proper  position. 

"  Justice  requires  us  to  notice  the  excellent  firing 
of  the  Veteran  corps  commanded  by  Capt.  Chap 
man,  and  which  did  much  execution." 

The  following  recognition  of  this  review  and  prac 
tice  was  officially  announced  : 

"  General  Dearborn  has  the  pleasure  to  announce 
to  Brig.  -Gen.  Morton,  of  the  first  brigade  of  New 
York  State  artillery,  the  high  satisfaction  he  ex 
perienced  in  the  review  of  his  brigade.  Their  ap 
pearance  was  every  way  military,  and  their  firing 
at  the  target  would  do  honor  to  the  oldest  artiller 
ists. 

"  He  observed  with  peculiar  pleasure  the  corps  of 
veterans  who,  at  an  advanced  period  of  life,  evince 
a  determination  to  be  first  in,,  the  defence  of  their 
country  and  its  rights. 

"  HEADQUARTERS,  Nov.  3.  1813." 

The  veteran  corps  of  artillery  also  published  a 
notice  of  their  great  satisfaction  and  approval  of  the 
action  and  skill  displayed  by  the  militia  under  Gen. 
Morton  on  that  occasion. 


332  MILITARY  PARADE. 

On  Nov.  3,  the  enemy's  ship  Plantagenet  chased 
the  American  schooner  Sparrow,  bound  from  New 
Orleans  to  New  York  laden  with  sugar  and  lead, 
on  shore  near  Long  Branch,  six  miles  distant 
from  where  Com.  Lewis'  flotilla  was  stationed  near 
Sandy  Hook,  and  took  possession  of  her  with  about 
one  hundred  men.  A  detachment  from  the  flotilla 
marched  against  them,  attacked  them,  drove  them 
from  on  board  the  vessel,  and  took  possession  un 
der  a  fire  from  the  enemy's  ship  and  barges.  In 
the  affair,  we  lost  one  man,  the  enemy  lost  several. 
The  whole  cargo,  sails,  rigging,  etc.,  were  saved. 

The  last  military  parade  of  the  year  took  place  by 
the  celebration  on  the  25th  of  November  of  the  evac 
uation  of  New  York  city  by  the  British  in  1783.  The 
anniversary  of  this  event  was  always  regarded  by 
the  inhabitants  as  one  that  deserved  great  attention 
and  was  only  second,  if  not  quite  equal,  to  the  4th  of 
July  in  the  esteem  of  the  community.  This  year 
was  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  it  and  many  of  the 
inhabitants  were  still  living  who  remembered  that 
occasion. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  common  council 
to  celebrate  it  in  1813  consisted  of  Messrs.  Hedden, 
Waldron,  and  Gen.  Jacob  Morton. 

A  particular  event  of  the  original  day  was  the 
pulling  down  the  British  flag  that  was  left  flying 
from  the  flagstaff  on  the  battery  when  they  sailed 
away.  The  American  flag  that  was  hoisted  on  the 
Battery  by  order  of  Gen.  Washington  the  same  day 
the  British  troops  evacuted  this  city,  was  then  (1813) 
in  possession  of  the  Common  Council.  * 

*•  This  flag  was  presented  to  Peale's  American  Museum  by  the 
common  council  in  1819.  It  was  raised  on  the  battery  for  the 


EVACUATION  DAT.  333 


The  day  was  always  observed  by  the  veterans  with 
great  eclat.  When  the  troops  paraded  on  that  day 
they  "  went  through  the  forms  practiced  on  taking 
possession  of  the  city,  manoeveuring  and  firing  feu 
dejoie,  etc.,  as  occurred  on  the  evacuation."  The 
veteran  corps  of  artillery  would  gather  around  the 
flagstaff  at  the  battery  and  John  Van  Arsdale,  one  of 
their  number  who  claimed  that  he  pulled  down  the 
British  flag  and  raised  the  American  flag,  would 
hoist  the  stars  and  stripes  to  the  top  of  the  flagstaff, 
amid  the  cheers  of  the  multitude  and  the  roar  of 
cannon.  John  Van  Arsdale  was  a  resident  of  the 
city  in  1813,  and  was  a  member  of  the  veteran  corps 
of  artillery. 

That  this  old  custom  was  performed  on  the  thir 
tieth  anniversary  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt,  but 
on  the  contrary,  the  following  account,  published  at 
that  time  will  confirm  our  belief  : 

"  The  Independent  Veteran  Corps  of  Artillery,  as 
sembled  at  the  Arsenal  in  Elm  Street  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  after  performing  the  duties  of  the  day  ad 
journed  to  their  headquarters  (Fraunces'  Tavern, 
then  called  Kent's  Hotel),  and  partook  of  a  dinner. 
Volunteer  toasts  were  given  by  Capt.  Chapman, 


last  time  on  the  anniversary  in  1846,  and  when  the  museum  was 
burnt  the  old  flag  perished  ! 

The  tradition  that  this  old  flag  was  the  first  one  that  was  raised 
on  the  flagstaff  after  the  British  left  was  never  disputed.  But 
that  the  British  left  their  national  flag  flying  and  had  cut  the 
halyards  and  greased  the  flag  pole  so  it  could  not  be  climbed  to 
replace  the  flag,  has  been  questioned ;  but  I  believe  it  is  true. 

The  other  statements  that  Van  Arsdale,  then  a  sailor,  climbed 
the  pole  and  cut  away  the  British  flag  and  then  affixed  the  hal 
yards  and  the  American  flag,  has  been  so  fully  presented  by  Mr. 
James  Riker  in  his  history  of  "Evacuation  Day,"  that  it  is 
unnecessary  for  me  to  discuss  it. 


334  VETERAN  CORPS'  PARADE. 

Capt.  (Lieut. )  John  Nixon,  Lieut.  Keeler,  and  Orderly 
Sergeant  Hall."* 

This  is  the  first  time  that  I  find  the  name,  ' i  Inde 
pendent  Veteran  Corps  of  Artillery,"  applied  to  the 
veteran  corps.  It  had  changed  commanders  since 
the  parade  on  the  4th  of  July  previous,  George  W. 
Chapman  had  been  made  its  captain,  and  it  had 
probably  been  reorganized  for  more  active  service. 
There  were  then  about  seventy  members  in  it. 
For  a  description  of  their  uniform,  see  ante,  p.  249. 

The  practice  of  some  of  them  marching  to  the  Bat 
tery  with  drums  and  fifes  and  raising  the  flag  at  sun 
rise  on  the  anniversary  is  believed  to  have  been  in 
troduced  several  years  subsequent  to  1820.  f 

One  account  of  the  celebration  said  : 

"  The  brigade  of  artillery  under  Gen.  Morton 
turned  out  and  formed  a  line  at  the  Battery  at  eleven 

*This  hotel  was  the  place  where  Gen.  Washington  took  farewell 
of  his  generals  in  December,  1783.  It  was  then  called  "Francis's 
Tavern  "  being  kept  by  Samuel  Francis  (he  spelled  his  name  Fraunces 
in  his  deed  of  conveyance  in  1785),  a  West  Indian  mulatto  of  French 
extraction.  When  Washington  was  elected  to  the  presidency,  '  'Black 
Sam"  was  appointed  steward  to  his  establishment.  (See  Valentine's 
Manual  for  1854  and  The  Century  Magazine  for  April  1889.) 

After  Fraunces  sold  it  it  was  called  Washington  Hotel  up  to  1813, 
when  in  consequence  of  Washington  Hall  being  opened  as  a  hotel  on 
Broadway,  corner  of  Reade  Street,  it  was  then  the  former  was  known 
by  the  name  of  the  keeper,  Kent. 

f  This  corps  was  organized  under  the  State  law  of  1808,  which  pro 
vided  "  that  thecommander-in-chief  may,  in  his  discretion,  whenever 
sixty  or  more  persons,  exempt  by  law  from  military  duty  on  account 
of  services  in  the  late  war  or  age,  will  associate  together  and  form  a 
company  for  the  defence  of  the  country,  upon  an  emergency,  in  any 
particular  place,  or  at  any  particular  point  of  danger,  in  case  of  war, 
and  will  sign  a  roll  pledging  themselves  to  bear  arms  and  take  the 
field  in  any  district  or  place  in  this  State,  when  the  same  may  be 
invaded  or  likely  to  be,  to  organize  such  association  and  commission 
officers  by  brevet  therefor,  and  upon  their  giving  ample  and  satis 
factory  security  for  the  return  thereof  upon  demand,  to  supply  them 
with  arms  out  of  the  public  arsenal." 

None  of  the  officers  were  members  of  the  State  Society  of  Cincin  • 
nati. 


SKETCH  OF  GEN.  MORTON.  335 

o'clock  and  they  were  reviewed  by  Major-Gen.  Ste 
vens,  Gen.  Dearborn,  Gen.  Steddiford  and  Gen.  Mor 
ton,  after  which  they  marched  up  Broadway  up 
Chatham  Eow  and  passed  west  in  front  of  the  City 
Hall,  where  they  fired  a  Federal  salute  of  eighteen 
guns  and  were  dismissed." 

One  other  account  said  : 

"  In  the  morning  the  military,  consisting  of  Gen. 
Morton's  brigade  of  artillery  and  Major  Warner's 
squadron  of  cavalry,  paraded  on  the  Battery  and 
were  reviewed  by  Major- Gen.  Dearborn  and  Gen. 
Stevens  and  Morton  with  their  suite.  They  then 
formed  a  column,  marched  through  several  of  the 
principal  streets  again  to  the  Battery,  where  a,  feu  de 
joie  was  fired  by  the  musketry  and  a  Federal  salute 
of  eighteen  guns  from  the  artillery,  and  the  troops 
were  dismissed.*  The  gunboats  under  command  of 

*  The  name  most  frequently  mentioned  in  the  preceding 
pages  is  that  of  Gen.  JACOB  MORTON.  He  was  the  son  of  John 
Morton,  who  was  one  of  the  committee  of  one  hundred  in  New 
York  city  during  the  Revolution,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  sec 
ond  New  York  Provincial  Congress.  John  Morton  had  eight 
children,  of  which  Jacob,  the  oldest,  married  Catherine  Ludlow, 
in  1791,  daughter  of  Carey  Ludlow  of  No.  9  State  Street.  Eliz 
abeth  married  Hon.  Josiah  Quincy.  Washington  married 
Cornelia  Schuyler,  daughter  of  Gen.  Schuyler.  Jacob  Morton 
was  born  July  8,  1761 .  He  graduated  from  Princeton  in  1778 
and  was  admitted  to  the  New  York  bar  in  1784. 

In  1797  he  was  in  command  of  the  third  New  York  militia  infan 
try  regiment.  The  captains  were  Isaac  Heyer.  Henry  J.  Wyckoff, 
John  Elting,  Nathaniel  Bloodgood  and  John  Graham.  Bernard 
Hart  was  quartermaster.  The  lieutenants  were  William  Hosack, 
Henry  Sands,  Henry  Cruger,  Jr.,  Peter  A.  Jay  and  Edward  W. 
Laight.  (The  latter  subsequently  was  in  command  of  the  eighty- 
fifth  regiment  during  the  war.)  He  was  afterwards  transferred 
to  the  sixth  regiment  of  infantry  militia.  The  first  brigade  of 
militia  artillery  organized  in  the  State  of  New  York  was  in  1804 
and  was  composed  of  two  ieg*iments  located  in  New  York  city 
and  was  placed  under  command  of  Gen.  Jacob  Morton.  It  was 
for  many  years  known  as  Morton's  brigade,  and  when  other  bri 
gades  were  formed,  this  was  known  and  designated  as  the  first 
brierade  of  New  York  State  artillery.  He  continued  in  command 


336  SKETCH  OF  GEN.  MORTON. 

Com.  Lewis,  which  were  in  the  harbor,  were  richly 
decorated  with  the  colors  of  different  nations." 

On  that  day  an  elegant  embroidered  standard  was 
presented  by  Mrs.  Sibbalds  to  the  fourth  troop  of 


of  this  brigade  until  his  promotion  to  major-general  after  the 
war. 

We  have  already  seen  how  his  brigade  was  composed  when 
war  was  declared  (ante,  p.  86). 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1813,  his  brigade  was  reorganized  by  Gov 
ernor  Tompkins  and  comprised  the  following  regiments  and  com 
manders  of  them :  second,  Peter  Curtenius ;  third,  Martin 
Boerum  (of  Brooktyn) ;  ninth,  John  Bleecker  ;  eleventh,  Corne 
lius  Harsen. 

He  was  made  an  honorary  member  of  the  New  York  State 
Society  of  Cincinnati  in  1794,  and  on  his  death  the  following 
notice  was  issued  on  the  3d  December,  1836,  by  said  society  : 

"The  president  with  deep  and  sincere  regard  announces  to  the 
members  of  the  society,  that  their  worthy  and  respected  friend, 
Major-General  Jacob  Morton,  died  this  morning  of  apoplexy  in 
the  76th  year  of  his  age.  His  death  was  awfully  sudden  and 
should  impress  upon  those  who  survive,  the  great  truth,  '  in  the 
midst  of  life  we  are  in  death,'  and  induce  them  to  be  prepared — 
as  he  believes  the  General  was — for  their  final  account. 

"  General  Morton,  like  most  of  the  young  gentlemen  who 
were  driven  from  this  city  by  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  its 
occupation  by  the  British,  studied  law  with  the  Jate  Judge  Pat 
terson,  of  New  Jersey,  was  first  admitted  to  the  bar  of  New  Jer 
sey,  and  afterwards  to  that  of  this  State,  and  practised  law  in 
this  city  for  many  years.  He  received  his  first  commission  as  an 
officer  in  the  militia,  on  or  about  the  year  1786,  and  contin 
ued  in  commission  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  upon 
duty  and  acted  as  one  of  the  marshals  of  the  day,  at  the  inaug 
uration  of  General  Washington,  which  took  place  in  this  city 
on  the  30th  day  of  April,  1789.  He  was  afterwards  colonel  of 
the  sixth  regiment  of  infantry,  and  was  transferred  with  that 
regiment  to  the  artillery,  and  upon  resignation  of  General  Eben- 
ezer  Stevens,  was  appointed  in  1815  to  the  command  of  the  first 
division  of  the  artillery  of  this  State.  He  served  as  a  brigadier- 
general,  in  the  war,  1812  to  1815,  under  orders  of  the  President 
of  this  Society,  who  in  1814  was  honored  by  the  President  of  the 
United  States  with  the  command  of  the  military  district  which 
included  the  city  of  New  York.  The  President  of  the  Society 
deems  it  justly  due  to  General  Morton  to  state,  that  whether  in 
peace  or  war,  he  and  the  troops  under  his  command  were  always 
ready  to  defend  their  country,  and  to  sustain  the  civil  authority 
to  put  down  riot  or  civil  commotions. 

"In  civil  life,  General  Morton  was  not  less  distinguished.  In 
the  year  1795  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Assembly 
from  this  city,  and  in  1797,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  late 


SKETCH  OF  GEN.  MORTON.  337 

flying  artillery  commanded  by  Capt.  Sibbalds  and 
attached  to  Col.  Harsen's  regiment. 

"  All    shops  and  business  places    were    closed, 
artisans  and  toilers  ceased  their  work,  the  streets 


Governor  Jay,  an  Act  was  passed  concentrating1  all  the  powers 
of  the  justices  of  the  peace  in  relation  to  civil  suits,  into  a  court 
of  justices  of  the  peace,  to  be  held  daily  at  the  City  Hall,  and 
General  Morton,  the  late  John  Wells,  James  Morris,  William 
Johnson  and  Samuel  Jones,  were  appointed  the  judges  of  it. 
After  filling  the  offices  of  alderman,  comptroller  and  city  inspec 
tor,  in  1810  he  was  appointed  the  clerk  of  the  common  council  of 
this  city,  which  office  he  held  for  more  than  twenty  years  and 
until  his  decease. 

"In  private  life  he  was  the  urbane  and  accomplished  gentle 
man,  an  affectionate  husband,  a  kind  father,  hospitable  to 
strangers,  a  friend  of  the  poor  and  a  sincere  Christian,  and  in 
every  way  deserving  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens,  and  of  the  members  of  this  Society  of  which  he  was  an 
honorary  member. 

"  The  funeral  will  take  place  from  No.  9  State  Street,  on  the 
6th  December,  at  2  P.M.,  and  members  of  this  Society  are  re 
quested  to  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days  in 
honor  of  their  deceased  associate. 

"  MORGAN  LEWIS,  President. 

"CHARLES  GRAHAM,  Secretary." 

Gen.  Morton  was  always  enthusiastic  in  military  matters,  and 
he  and  his  regiments  were  ready  to  parade  on  every  occasion. 
When  he  became  too  old  and  feeble  to  mount  his  horse  he  re 
viewed  the  troops  on  the  battery  from  his  balcony  at  his  resi 
dence,  No.  9  State  Street,  and  on  these  occasions,  he  always  re 
ceived  from  them  the  compliment  of  a  marching'  salute,  and  he 
replied  by  a  wave  of  his  hand. 

He  was  small  in  stature  and  had  a  large  head.  There  was  no 
waste  material  about  him.  He  was  erect  in  bearing,  and  digni 
fied  and  courtly  in  manner.  When  he  became  old  in  the  service 
he  was  called  by  the  young  men  "  The  Little  God  of  War." 

The  portrait  gallery  in  the  governor's  room  in  theCity  Hall 
contains  an  excellent  portrait  painted  by  Jarvis.  He  is  repre 
sented  in  the  regalia  of  a  member  of  the  State  Society  of  Cincin 
nati  with  a  view  of  Castle  Clinton  (now  Castle  Garden)  in  the 
background  as  it  appeared  in  his  day. 

The  famous  huge  punch  bowl  which  was  presented  to  the 
city  by  Gen.  Morton,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1812,  is  still  preserved 
in  the  governor's  room  in  the  City  Hall.  Out  of  this  bowl  the 
city  fathers  dipped  their  punch  (hot  or  cold  according  to  the 
season),  during  the  war  of  1812  and  for  many  years  after 
wards.  In  politics  he  was  a  Federalist. 

So  many  of  Gen.  Morton's  relatives  and  descendants  are  still 


338  GEN.  MORTON'S  DESCENDANTS. 

decorated  with  patriotic  emblems,  alive  with  happy 
people,  were  given  up  to  gaiety  and  mirth.  To 
civic  and  military  displays  were  added  sumptuous 
dinners  and  convivial  parties,  while  the  school-boy 
rejoiced  in  a  holiday  ;  the  whole  bearing  witness  to 
a  people's  gratitude  for  the  deliverance  which  that 
memorable  day  brought  them." 

After  the  military  were  dismissed  Capt.  Swain's 
company  of  the  third  regiment  of  artillery  marched 

living"  among  us  that  the  following  will  prove  interesting  to 
many  : 

JACOB  MORTON,  born  July  8th,  1761  ;  died  Dec.  3,  1836  ;  mar 
ried  to  Catharine  Ludlow,  June  25,  1791,  who  was  born  January 
22,  1767,  died  May  11,  1849. 

Their  children  were  : — 

John  Ludlow  Morton,  born  March  16,  1792  ;  occupation,  artist ; 
died  August  2,  1871.  Married  Emily  Ellison,  Sept.  8,  1820. 

George  William  Morton,  born  July  5,  1793 ;  occupation, 
United  States  commissioner  and  clerk  United  States  district 
court ;  died  May  7,  1865.  Married  Caroline  Augusta  Denning, 
October  11,  1827. 

Charles  Ferdinand  Morton,  born  Oct.  30,  1794 ;  occupation, 
United  States  army  ;  died  April  10,  1868.  Married  Henrietta 
Ellison,  March  3,  1830. 

Catharine  Margaretta  Morton,  born  Oct.  22,  1798  ;  died  Jan 
uary  20,  1808. 

Edmund  Morton,  born  June  1,  1800;  occupation,  gentleman 
farmer  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  ;  married  Catherine  Ellison, 
Sept.  8,  1830 ;  died  Aug.  7,  1881. 

Hester  Sophia  Morton,  born  Aug.  3,  1796.  Married  to  Dr. 
Robert  S.  Bullus,  June,  1832  ;  died  June  26,  1868.  Dr.  Bullus 
died  November,  1885. 

Washington  Quincy  Morton,  born  April  12,  1802.  Occupa 
tion,  lawyer  ;  died  Sept.  6,  1878.  Never  married. 

Hamilton  Morton,  born  Jan.  21,  1804.  Occupation,  surgeon 
in  United  States  army,  afterwards  lawyer.  Still  living  unmar 
ried  in  New  York  city. 

Henry  Jackson  Morton,  born  Sept.  5,  1807;  occupation, 
Episcopal  clergyman.  Married,  Sept.  1, 1831,  Helen  McFarland. 
Still  living. 

Four  of  Gen.  Morton's  sons  graduated  from  Columbia  college, 
and  two  others  (W.  Q.  and  Henry  J.)  graduated  from  Princeton. 
Three  of  them  married  three  of  the  Ellison  sisters. 

For  an  account  of  the  Ludlow  and  Ellison  families  see  the  gen 
ealogical  work  of  Robert  Ludlow  Fowler,  entitled  "  Our  Prede 
cessors  and  Descendants"  published  in  1888. 


MANY  DINNERS.  339 


to  Hodgkinson's  tavern,  southwest  corner  of  Fair 
(now  Fulton)  and  Nassau  Streets,  and  partook  of  a 
dinner.  Toasts  were  drank. 

A  dinner  was  given  by  the  mayor  and  common 
council  at  the  City  Hall,  and  a  number  of  distin 
guished  guests  were  invited  and  entertained. 

The  Democrats  of  the  city  celebrated  Evacuation 
Day  by  a  subscription  dinner  at  Tammany  Hall. 
Walter  Bowne  (afterward  mayor  from  1828  to  1832) 
was  president  and  Frederick  Jenkins  (of  Jenkins 
&  Havens)  was  vice-president.  Gen.  Dearborn 
and  suite  were  present.  Toasts  were  given  by  Gen. 
Dearborn,  Col.  Simons,  Col.  S.  Hawkins,  Mr.  Jenk 
ins,  Dr.  Bullus,  Capt.  Haff,  Alderman  Bingham, 
Messrs.  Pierson,  Broome,  John  Eodman,  J.  L.  Law- 
ranee,  William  Irving,  John  Ferguson,  P.  Stagg,. 
C.  Baldwin,  A.  Dally,  A.  Stagg  and  Hegeman, 
Col.  John  Swartwout,  Capt.  Campbell,  Capt.  Sher 
man  and  Dr.  Cook, 

The  toasts  were  expressive  of  the  political  opin 
ions  and  events  of  the  day. 

The  Federalists  had  a  subscription  dinner  at 
Washington  Hall,  where  toasts  were  drank,  etc., 
but  they  were  very  quiet  and  their  toasts  were  not 
published. 

It  had  been  customary  on  every  anniversary  of 
Evacuation  Day  since  Tammany  Society  had  been 
organized,  for  the  officials  and  members  of  that  so 
ciety  to  parade  in  the  costume  of  the  Indians,  and 
some  of  them  with  buck  tails  in  their  hats,  but  on 
this  day  no  parade  was  made,  for  the  reasons  al 
ready  stated  about  their  parade  in  that  manner  on 
the  4th  of  July  (ante,  page  240,  etc. ). 

The  Tammany  Society  satisfied   themselves  by 


34:0  FESTIVITIES,  SET  ROCKETS  AND 

celebrating  the  day  simply  by  a  dinner  by  them 
selves  at  Tammany  Hall,  where  toasts  were  drank. 

The  Columbian  Society  celebrated  the  day  by  a 
supper  at  Mr.  J.  Sagar's,  who  then  kept  the  place  cor 
ner  of  Nassau  and  Spruce  Streets  formerly  known 
as  Martling's.  Toasts  were  drank,  and  the  following 
songs  were  rendered  :  "  The  Woodman,"  "  Madison 
and  Liberty,"  a  national  ode  by  K.  Grant,  Jr.  ; 
< ' Yankee  Boy,"  "Jefferson  and  Liberty,"  "Sheep 
Stealers,"  "Yankee  Frolics,"  "Yankee  Chronol 
ogy,"  "John  Bull  has  got  the  Gripes,'1  by  R.  Grant, 
Jr.,  "Goddess  of  Liberty,"  "While  Pensively  I 
Thought  on  my  Love." 

In  the  evening  the  front  of  the  Park  Theater  and 
the  Panorama  building  next  door  exhibited  brilliant 
emblematic  transparencies. 

6 '  Fraternal  Discord  "  was  one  of  the  pieces  at  the 
Park  Theater.  The  new  theater  on  Broadway  called 
the  Commonwealth,  formerly  called  the  Broadway 
Circus,  had  a  national  spectacle  called  "  American 
Heroes,  or  the  Triumph  of  Freedom;"  the  concluding 
scene  was  the  "  Palace  of  Neptune." 

The  most  striking  event  of  the  occasion  was  the 
dinner  of  the  eleventh  regiment. 

After  the  parade  was  over  late  in  the  afternoon, 
the  officers  of  the  eleventh  regiment  of  artillery, 
commanded  by  Lieut. -Col.  Cornelius  Harsen,  par 
took  of  a  sumptuous  entertainment  served  by  Messrs. 
Martling  and  Cozzens  at  Tammany  Hall  dining  room. 
Gen.  Mapes  and  suite  (of  the  third  brigade)  and  many 
other  distinguished  gentlemen  were  present.  In  the 
course  of  the  evening  Major-Gen.  Dearborn,  Major- 
Gen.  Stevens  and  Gen.  Morton,  with  their  respective 
suites,  joined  the  gathering.  The  eleventh  regiment 


CANNON'S  ROAR.  341 


band  was  in  attendance.  A  cannon  was  stationed 
in  the  City  Hall  park,  and  by  signal  greeted  every 
toast  after  it  was  pronounced,  and  was  followed  by 
the  music  of  the  band.  There  was  also  a  brilliant 
display  of  rockets  thrown  from  the  portico  of  the 
City  Hall  from  time  to  time  by  order  of  Gen.  Dear 
born. 

The  music  following  the  regular  toasts  were  : 
"  Grand  March,"  "  Yankee  Doodle/'  "  President's 
March,"  "Patriotic  March,"  "Gov.  Tompkins' 
March,"  "America,"  " Commerce  and  Freedom," 
"Battle  of  Prague,"  "The  Mariners,"  "Washing 
ton's  March,"  "Lexington  March,"  "Hail  Colum 
bia,"  "Speed  the  Plough,"  "Yankee  Doodle," 
"Com.  Perry's  March,"  "The  Volunteer,"  "The 
Troop,"  "Fairy  Dance." 

Volunteer  toasts  were  numerous,  being  given  by 
all  the  leading  military  officers  present,  but  they  were 
unaccompanied  with  the  roar  of  the  cannon,  the 
stirring  music,  and  the  flight  of  rockets.  It  was 
late  in  the  evening  before  the  festivities  ceased. 

The  City  Hall  park  was  crowded  during  the  even 
ing  and  the  enthusiasm  displayed  was  immense. 

The  campaign  of  1813  was  over  in  the  vicinity  of 
New  York  and  no  fear  was  felt  in  the  city  of  an  at 
tack  by  sea  or  land. 

There  was  no  call  by  the  President  or  military 
commanders  for  a  quota  of  detached  militia  for  ser 
vice  in  the  third  military  district  during  the  year 
1813.  It  was  left  to  the  governors  of  the  States  of 
New  York  and  of  New  Jersey  to  provide  such  addi 
tional  military  forces  as  was  outside  of  the  regular 
army  or  volunteers  in  the  regular  service. 

The  troops  remaining  in  service  to  defend  the  port 


342  FORCES  IN  SERVICE. 

of  New  York  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  1814  con 
sisted  of  the  following  :  Second  United  States  vol 
unteers  (artillery),  Col.  Samuel  Hawkins;  Third  Uni 
ted  States  volunteers  (riflemen),  Lieut. -Co].  Alex. 
Denniston ;  Thirty -second  United  States  infantry, 
Col.  S.  E.  FotteraU  ;  Forty-first  United  States  in 
fantry,  Col.  Eobert  Bogardus ;  Forty-second  infan 
try,  Lieut. -Col.  Jas.  G.  Forbes  ;  Third  United 
States  artillery,  several  companies,  under  Lieut. - 
Col.  James  House  ;  about  1,000  Sea  Fencibles  under 
Com.  Lewis. 

All  the  above  mentioned  were  composed  of  recruits 
from  New  York,  excepting  a  few  others  in  the 
thirty-second  infantry  and  third  artillery. 

There  were  a  very  large  proportion  of  these  forces 
on  furlough,  but  they  could  be  readily  called  into 
service  in  case  of  an  emergency,  as  they  were  near 
at  hand,  mostly  in  the  city  and  its  immediate  neigh 
borhood.  On  the  8th  of  November  some  companies 
in  Col.  Hawkins'  regiment  were  discharged,  their 
term  of  enlistment  having  expired. 

The  following  notice  was  issued  near  the  end  of 
the  year  : 

"All  troops  on  parole  in  the  third  military  dis 
trict  will  immediately  report  themselves  to  Lieut. 
Fink  at  the  garrison  on  Staten  Island,  near  Fort 
Eichmoiid,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  clothing 
and  rations,  Lieut.  Fink  having  removed  his  quar 
ters  from  Fort  Gansevoort  to  the  above  said  garrison 
on  Staten  Island. 

"By  order  of  Adjutant  General." 

The  official  report  of  the  detached  militia  of  New 
Jersey  who  were  in  the  service  of  the  United  States 
during  the  entire  year  of  1813  is  as  follows  : 


NEW  JERSEY  M1LI1IA.  343 


1813. 

Officers. 

Non-Com 

.     Privates. 

INFANTRY 

'm 

From  April  28 

to  Sept.  -18, 

4 

13 

84 

"      May    3 

"    Oct.  31, 

7 

9 

91 

"      24 

"  Sept.  30, 

4 

8 

82 

"        "      28 

"      "      18,       16 

17 

158 

"      July  15 

<k      "      30, 

5 

15 

99 

CAVALRY 

"     May    9 

"  Sept.  18, 

5 

8 

42 

ARTILLERY. 

"     April  28 

"  Sept.  18, 

1 

2 

16 

RIFLEMEN 

9 

"    May   11 

"  Sept.  18, 

2 

4 

49 

The  number  of  New  Jersey  militia  that  were  in 
service  during  the  year  1813  were  virtually  all  for 
the  defence  of  the  city  and  harbor  of  New  York, 
but  some  were  stationed  on  Delaware  Bay.  Many 
of  them  were  not  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  as  detached  militia,  but  were  ordered  out 
by  the  governor  as  independent  militia,  subject  en 
tirely  to  his  orders  and  at  such  places  as  he  deemed 
best  to  protect  the  sea  coast  of  the  State.  These 
were  on  the  Delaware  and  at  Sandy  Hook  and  the 
Highlands  of  Navesink  and  at  Paulus  Hook,  and 
were  not  subject  to  the  commander  of  the  third  mili 
tary  district,  so  long  as  they  did  not  interfere  with 
his  forces  and  stations,  but  he  was  consulted  about 
the  disposition  of  those  placed  in  this  district. 

The  first  division  of  New  Jersey  militia,  consisting 
of  East  Jersey,  was  under  command  of  Gen.  Wil 
liam  Golf  ex,  and  was  comprised  in  the  third  United 
States  military  district  with  New  York  city. 


344  GEN.  MORTONS  BRIGADE. 

The  second  division  of  New  Jersey  comprised 
West  Jersey,  and  was  under  command  of  Gen. 
Ebenezer  Elmer,  of  the  Cumberland  brigade,  and 
was  comprised  in  the  fourth  United  States  military 
district  with  Philadelphia. 

The  enlistment  and  volunteers  had  drawn  heavily 
from  the  uniformed  militia  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
York.  Many  of  their  officers  had  received  commis 
sions  in  the  regular  service.  Never  as  full  as  could 
be  required  by  law,  this  depletion  of  city  regiments 
was  now  felt  more  than  ever.  Although  their  arms 
were  stacked,  they  were  still  watching  and  ready 
for  any  emergency  that  might  require  their  services 
in  the  defence  of  their  own  and  their  neighbors'  prop 
erty  and  homes  against  an  invader. 

Gen.  Morton's  brigade  of  artillery  was  not  as  full 
as  could  be  wished,  but  they  were  all  well  disciplined 
and  drilled  in  heavy  artillery  as  well  as  for  field  ser 
vice.  Much  reliance  was  placed  upon*  them  in  case 
of  an  attack  by  way  of  Long  Island  ^Sound.  The 
forces  in  service  were  mainly  at  Sandy  Hook  and 
the  Narrows;  few  were  at  the  forts  in  the  harbor 
and  in  the  city.  Com.  Lewis'  flotilla  of  gunboats 
was  in  the  harbor  ready  to  proceed  into  Long  Island 
Sound  or  down  to  Sandy  Hook. 


CHAPTEE  XVIII. 

National  Financial  Condition — Issue  of  Treasury  Notes—Taken 
by  New  York  Banks — Names  of  City  Subscribers  to  National 
Loans — National  Direct  Taxes — City  Revenne  and  Taxation 
— National  Internal  Revenue  in  the  City — State  Taxation — 
The  Financial  Outlook. 

HEN  the  question  of  peace  or  war 
arises  in  a  nation,  financial  condi- 
,  tions  are  usually  chief  and  foremost 
to  be  considered,  and  they  more 
often  decide  the  question  of  an  ag 
gressive  war  than  do  any  other  con 
siderations. 

The  financial  condition  of  this 
country  had  long  been  the  greatest  difficulty  that 
the  war  party  had  to  contend  with.  The  most  popu 
lar  argument  against  the  war  was  the  cost  of  it, 
and  at  a  time,  too,  when  the  foreign  commerce  and 
prosperity  of  the  country  had  been  depleted  by  em- 
bargos  and  restrictive  laws  for  many  years,  as  well 
as  by  the  action  of  foreign  nations  toward  the  mer 
chant  marine  that  sailed  under  the  American  flag, 
and  that  sought  commerce  to  and  from  the  ports  of 
the  United  States. 

In  addition  to  this  the  old  United  States  Bank, 
with  its  ten  million  dollars  capital,  ceased  to  exist  on 
the  4th  of  March,  1811.  It  had  a  branch  in  New 
York  city  and  did  a  large  business  there.  The  sud 
den  withdrawal  of  so  much  capital  from  the  busi 
ness  of  the  country  caused  great  financial  distress, 


346  NATIONAL  FINANCES. 


particularly  among  New  York  merchants.  The  at 
tempts  by  State  legislation  to  create  new  banks  had 
been  done  in  such  manner  as  not  to  inspire  much 
confidence  in  them,  and  many  or  nearly  all  the  banks 
in  New  York  State  and  in  the  various  parts  of  the 
country  had  not  yet  had  time  to  have  paid  in  all  the 
capital  which  the  laws  allowed  them  or  required 
that  they  should  have. 

Our  national  financial  affairs  had  been  rapidly 
growing  worse  as  the  expenses  of  the  war  increased. 
The  people  knew  little  of  the  real  financial  condi 
tion,  but  felt  more  keenly  than  any  time  before  the 
higher  prices  and  burdens  of  increased  taxes,  and 
the  prospect  of  still  greater  financial  burdens  if  the 
war  was  continued. 

The  first  loan,  out  of  which  the  main  expenses  of 
the  war  had  been  borne,  was  authorized  before  war 
had  been  declared.  This  was  the  loan  of  eleven 
millions  authorized  by  act  of  March  14,  1812.  It 
was  United  States  six  per  cent  stock,  as  it  was 
then  called,  and  was  taken  at  par.  A  portion  of 
the  stock  was  payable  one  year  after  the  date  of 
issue. 

Soon  after  war  was  declared  further  loans  were 
sought  by  means  of  United  States  treasury  notes. 

The  first  act  authorizing  the  issuing  of  treasury 
notes  became  a  law  June  30,  1812.  It  was  for 
$5,000,000— none  were  to  be  for  less  than  $100.  They 
were  all  issued  before  the  end  of  the  year  1813,  and 
were  to  be  redeemed  during  the  year  1814.  They 
were  payable  one  year  after  date  and  bore  five  and 
two-fifths  per  cent  interest  per  annum. 

The  amount  of  monies  obtained  by  loans  and 
treasury  notes  in  New  York  city  during  the  year 


LOANS  IN  NEW  YORK  CITY.  347 

ending  December  1,  1812,  was  $3,333,000  out  of  a 
total  of  $13,100,200  in  the  United  States.  It  was  all 
taken  at  par. 

Of  this  the  Manhattan  Company  of  New  York  city 
took  $600,000  of  the  six  per  cent  stock  and  one  mil 
lion  United  States  treasury  notes  and  the  Mechanics' 
Bank  took  $600,000  of  the  six  per  cent  stock  and 
$600,000  in  treasury  notes.  The  amount  of  stock 
taken  by  individuals  in  New  York  was  only  $473,000. 

There  were  about  three  millions  in  treasury  notes 
issued  during  the  year  1812,  and  became  due  in  1813. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1813,  Congress  passed  an 
act  authorizing  the  borrowing  of  sixteen  millions  of 
dollars.  For  this  loan  the  public  were  invited  by 
advertisement  to  send  in  proposals  to  the  United 
States  treasury  department  until  March  31st.  Under 
this  only  $3,956,400  were  offered  to  be  taken.  Of 
this  $2,400,000  came  from  merchants  in  New  York 
city,  chiefly  by  the  exertions  of  Jacob  Barker. 

Mr.  Barker  was  an  ardent  Democrat  and  wished 
to  sustain  the  government.  Whether  from  selfish 
pecuniary  motives  or  otherwise  we  need  not  now 
consider.  He  attempted  to  form  an  association  of 
affluent  persons  to  take  the  entire  loan,  and  in  order 
to  make  it  more  easy,  he  wished  to  have  some  Feder 
alist  undertake  the  agency  of  the  enterprise.  With 
that  object  in  view,  he  applied  to  Mr.  Oliver  Wol- 
cott,  who  was  then  president  of  the  new  Bank  of 
America,  with  its  nominal  capital  of  $4,000,000,  to 
accept  the  agency.  After  a  few  days  Mr.  Wolcott 
not  only  declined  the  agency,  but  declined  to  become 
a  subscriber,  alleging  that  it  might  interfere  with 
existing  arrangements  between  John  Jacob  Astor 
and  the  government. 


348  8      UBSCRIBERS  FOR 

Mr.  Barker  then  applied  to  Mr.  Augustin  H.  Law 
rence,  a  prominent  merchant  and  Federalist,  and  a 
member  of  the  board  of  aldermen.  He  also  declined. 

The  government  allowed  a  commission  of  one- 
quarter  of  one  per  cent  to  all  who  obtained  sub 
scribers.  No  person  seemed  willing  to  take  the 
agency  for  obtaining  subscribers,  so  Mr.  Barker  took 
hold  of  it. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  subscribers  in  New 
York  city  for  $16,000,000,  United  States  loan  under 
Act  of  February  8,  1813  : 

John  Eathbone  &  Son,    .         .         .  $20,000 

Jacob   Barker,      ....  100,000 

James  Lovett,          ....  <z5,000 

Gabriel  Havens,            .         .         .  10,000 

John  Bullus, 10,000 

Brockholst  Livingston,         .         .  20,000 

John  Mason, 5,000 

Stephen  Whitney,         .         .         .  10,000 

Freeman  Allen,        ....  25,000 

Thaddeus  Phelps,                  .         .  10,000 

John    L.  Broome,     ....  20,000 

Smith   &  Nicoll,            .         .         .  $20,000 

Walsh  &  Gallagher,       .         .         .  10,000 

Post  &  Minturn,  ....  50,000 

John  Rowland         .         .         .         .  50,000 

Benj.  Huntington,       .         .         .  10,000 

Wright  &  Allen,      ....  30,000 

Aver  Bremner,      ....  30,000 

Geo.  W.    Murray,         .         .          .  10,000 

Kobert  Chesebrough,       .         .         .  10,000 

Jonas  S.  Koulet,           .         .         .  10,000 

John  Colvill  &  Son,         .         .         .  20,000 

Norwood  &  Austin,      .         .         .  10,000 
Samuel  Tooker,         ....    20,000 

W.  &  L.  Vandevoort,     .         .         .  10,000 

Kobert  Ainslow,  .         .         .         .  10,000 


UNITED  STATES  LOANS.  349 

John  Icard, $20,000 

Boorman  &  Johnston,           .         .  10,000 

Leonard  Bleecker,  .         .         .         .  30,000 

Thomas  H.  Smith,        .         .         .  10,000 

John  F.  Delaplaine  &  Co,       .       ,.  10,000 
Isaac  Clason,         ....       500,000 

Lawrence  &  Van  Buren,         .         .  10,000 
Theodore  Fowler,          .         .         .       150,000 

Philip  Brasher,          ....  50,000 

Kelly  &  Morrisen,        .         .       ' .  ;  20,000 

Mollan  &  Kankin,  ....  20,000 

Teterel  &  Williams,      .         .         .  20,000 

Garden  S.  Mumford,        .        .         .  20,000 

Benjamin   Bailey,         .         .         .  10,000 

Peter  H.  Schenck,  ....  10,000 

J.   Prall,        .         .         .         .       V.  10,000 

Abraham  Eiker  &  Co,      .        m    .*..,'  10,000 

John  Clendening,          .         .         .  20,000 

Thomas  &  Peter  Stagg,  .         .         .  25,000 

Joseph  Dederic,    .         .       ..         .  10,000 

Eensselaer  Havens,          .         .         .  20,000 

James  McBride,    ....  10,000 

Peter  Murphy,          .         .         .         .10,000 

Walter  Morton,    ....  10,000 

John  Grant,      .....  .         .  10,000 

James  Thompson,         .         .         .  .  20,000 

Thompson  &  Edgar,         .         .       *,.  10,000 

Peter   Crary,    Jr.          .                 .  10,000 

Louis  Larue, 25,000 

Majastre  &  Tardy,        .         .      '   .  10,000 

Irving  &  Smith,       .         .         .  50,000 

P.  &  E.  Irving  &   Co.,         .         .  20,000 

James  C.  Flack,        ....  10,000 

James  Kelso,         ....  10,000 

Kelso  &   Crimp,       .         .        .         .  10,000 

Bernard  Keenan,    .         .         .         .  4,000 

Garrit  Storm,           .         .         .         .  10,000 

Gamaliel  Smith,           .        .     .   .  20,000 
Jase  &  W.  Dunlap,          .         .         .10,000 

Austin  &  Andrews,      .         .         .  20,000 

Jonathan  Lawrence,         .        .         .  23,000 


350  SUBSCRIBERS  FOR 

Samuel  Stillwell,  . '  .  .  $10,000 
Van  Horn  &  Morris,  .  .  .  5,000 

Isaac  Lawrence,  .  .  .  25,000 
Nicolo  Senchich,  ....  40,000 
Leonard  Bleecker,  .  .  .  20,000 
Henry  A.  &  John  G.  Costar,  .  100,000 
John"  Grant,  ....  20,000 
Peter  Feviere,  ....  10,000 
Joseph  Burr,  .  ...  6,000 

Bradhurst  &  Field,  .  .  .  5,000 
F.  Wildman,  .  .  .  .  4,000 
James  Van  Oyke,  ....  5,000 
S.  M.  Thompson,  .  .  .  10,000 
Q.  &  S.  Wildman,  .  .  .  .6,000 
John  &  Jacob  Drake,  .  .  .  10,000 
John  H.  Douglass,  .  .  .  .4,000 
Philip  S.  Lebreton,  .  .  .  6,000 
Mehitable  Hunting,  .  .  .  .4,000 
Samuel  Watkins,  .  .  .  .  5,000 

W.  Holly, 5,000 

Jacob  M.  &  John  M.  Hicks,  .  .  2,000 
B.  T.  Underbill,  .  .  .  .2,000 
John  Lefferty,  .  .  .  .  2,500 

B.  Andariese, 2,000 

Taitus  &  Avery,     .         .         .         .         6,000 

John  Russ, 4,000 

Irving  &  Smith,     .         .         .         .         5,000 

John  Shute, 10,000 

Henry  W.  Bool, 6,000 

Jeremiah  Ackerly,  Jr. ,         .         .  1,200 

James  Weeks,  ....  6,000 
W.  H.  Ireland,  .  .  .  .  2,000 
Abraham  Bishop,  .  .  .  25,000 

Jeremiah  F.  Randolph,  .  .  10,000 
David  Dunham,  .  '  .  .  .  10,000 
H.  C.  De  Ehau,  ....  32,300 
Luther  Loomis,  ....  5,000 

Later  subscribers  were  : 

Isaac  Lawrence,  ....  $25,000 
Fred  De  Peyster,  ....  25,000 


UNITED  STATES  LOANS.  351 


John  Rathbone,  Jr.,     . 

$25,000 

Francis  Depau, 

.     20,000 

James  Lovett, 

20,000 

Edmund  Elmundorf, 

5,000 

Wm.  P.  Van  Ness, 

25,000 

Walter  Morton, 

.     10,000 

Benj.  Huntingdon, 

10,000 

Walter   Bowne, 

.     10,000 

Wm.  Van  Ness,    . 

20,000 

Alex.  Ferguson, 

200 

Daniel   Delapierre, 

30,00 

Philip  S.  L.  Breton,     . 

10,000 

John  L.    Broome,    . 

.  '  20,000 

Frederick  Brune, 

15,000 

James   R.  Wilson,  . 

.     30,000 

John  Icard, 

10,000 

Earl  De  Pearce, 

.       5,000 

Isaac  Jones, 

4,000 

John  M.  &  Jacob  M.  Hicks 

2.000 

The  terms  of  the  loan  taken  were  88  per  cent  for 
six  per  cent  stock,  with  an  annuity  of  one  and  one- 
half  per  cent  per  annum  for  thirteen  years. 

This  sixteen  million  loan  was  obtained  from  the 
proceeds  of  $18,109,377.43  of  United  States  stock, 
bearing  interest  at  six  per  cent. 

On  25th  of  February,  1813,  a  law  was  passed 
authorizing  a  new  issuing  of  treasury  notes  not  ex 
ceeding  $5,000,000  with  interest  at  5|  per  cent  per 
annum.  The  notes  were  in  sums  of  not  less  than 
$100.  They  were  not  to  be  sold  or  issued  under 
par,  and  be  received  in  payment  of  all  duties  and 
taxes  laid  by  the  United  States,  and  for  public 
lands  sold,  and  on  every  such  payment  as  afore 
said  credit  was  given  for  the  amount  of  both  prin 
cipal  and  interest  accrued  from  the  time  of  issue  up 
to  the  day  of  such  payment. 


352  UNITED  STATES  LOANS. 

On  August  2,  1813,  another  act  was  passed 
authorizing  a  further  loan  of  $7,500,000  on  United 
States  six  per  cent  stock,  to  be  closed  by  September 
25th,  1813. 

Mr.  Barker  did  not  stop  when  he  obtained  the 
subscribers  to  the  sixteen  million  loan,  but  pro 
ceeded  to  obtain  additional  subscriptions  and  made 
such  further  arrangements  as  would  enable  him  to 
furnish  a  large  sum  in  his  own  name. 

The  loans  under  act  ^of  August  2,  1813,  accepted 
25th  September,  1813,  by  citizens  of  New  York 
were  : 

Jacob  Barker  ....  $1,435,000 
Fitz  Green  Halleck*  .  .  .  288,000 
G.  B.  Vroom  .  .  .  144,000 

Whitehead  Fish     ....     118,000 


Total        .''.«.         .         .       $1,985,000 

The  entire  amount  obtained  from  other  sources 
was  only  $5,515,000.  This  loan  was  at  88  ^  per 
cent  for  six  per  cent  stock. 

The  following  advertisement  appeared  in  Novem 
ber: 

"  Jacob  Barker  wishes  to  purchase  scrip  certifi 
cates  in  the  seven  and  a  half  million  loan.  He 
offers  for  sale  $39,000  funded  stock  in  the  sixteen 
million  loan,  and  $93,000  funded  stock  in  the  seven 
and  a  half  million  loan. " 

At  that  time  government  stock  was  selling:  the 
new  sixes  at  90J  and  the  old  deferred  sixes  at  93, 
and  the  new  three  per  cents  at  54. 

The  banking  capitaHn  New  York  city  up  to  De- 

*  He  was  at  that  time  the  nominal  partner  of  Mr.  Barker. 


PRICE   OF  BANK  STOCKS.  353 

cember,  1813,  was  $14, 850, 000.  They  were  allowed  to 
issue  bills  for  circulation  to  three  times  the  amount 
of  their  nominal  capital.  The  extent  of  their  circu 
lation  could  not  be  ascertained,  because  they  were 
not  then  required  by  law  to  make  any  report  of 
their  condition. 

The  stock  in  the  New  York  City  banks  were  sell 
ing  about  the  1st  of  December  as  follows: 

Bank  of  New  York  .         .        .        130 

Manhattan  Company  (J.  &  J.)  .         .      122 
Merchant's  Bank  (J.  &  D.)      .         .          123J 
Mechanic's  Bank  (F.  &  A.)         .         .122 
Union  Bank  (M.  &  A.)  .        .          108 

Bank  of  America         .        .        .        .114 
City  Bank  (M.  &N.)        .        .         .          110 J- 
N.  Y.  M'fg  Co.  (Phoenix  Bank)         .      134 
The  dividends  were  from  seven  to  nine  per  cent, 
per  annum  about  that  time. 

The  stock  in  the  several  most  prominent  fire 
and  marine  insurance  companies  in  the  city  were  at. 
the  same  time  quoted  as  follows: 

New  York  Insurance  Co.  (J.  &  J.)  .  80 
United  (F.  &  A.)  .  .  .  .65 

Commercial  ( J.  &  D.)  .  .  .  60 
Phoenix  (J.  &  J.).  .  .  .  .60 
Ocean  (J.  &  J.)  .  .  .  .  86 

New  York  Firemen's  (M.  &  N.)     .         .     72£ 
Mutual  (M.  &  N.)       .         .         .         .       125 
Eagle  (J.  &  J.)      '.  .  125 

The  treasury  notes  were  becoming  due  soon,  early 
in  1814,  and  the  current  expenses  of  the  war  were 
growing  heavier.  New  loans  must  be  made  by  the 
government,  probably  at  a  heavier  discount  than  in 
1813. 


354  THE  DIRECT  TAX. 

There  were  about  five  millions  in  treasury  notes 
that  were  becoming  due  in  the  fore  part  of  1814. 

Up  to  1814  all  the  expenditures  of  the  govern 
ment  had  been  derived  from  custom  duties,  sale  of 
public  lands,  etc.,  but  now  a  tax  was  to  be  enforced 
upon  specific  articles,  as  well  as  a  direct  tax  upon 
property,  in  order  to  meet  current  expenses  of  the 
war  and  the  obligations  of  the  government  as  they 
became  due. 

On  July  22  and  August  2,  1813,  Congress  passed 
a  law  laying  a  direct  tax  of  $3,000,000  upon  the 
States,  apportioning  it  upon  each  of  the  counties  in 
each  State,  but  allowing  the  State  legislature  to 
vary  the  apportionment  to  each  county  by  law  pre 
vious  to  April  1, 1814.  The  sum  of  $430,141.62,  was 
apportioned  upon  New-  York  State,  $109,230  of 
which  was  upon  the  city  and  county  of  New  York. 

This  was  a  heavy  tax  on  property  in  the  city  in 
addition  to  the  usual  taxation  for  the  current  ex 
penses,  besides,  now  the  latter  were  increased. 

The  valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  in 
the  city  and  county  of  New  York,  made  in  the  fore 
part  of  each  year  for  taxation,  were  as  follows  : 

1811 . .  $26, 045, 730.  Eate  of  tax,  $6. 80  per  $1000. 
1812..   26,240,040  "  6.70    "       u 

1813..   27,650,230          "         "        6.30    "       " 
1814..   28,091,497 

Amount  raised  by  taxation  each  year  : 

1811, $176,978.25 

1812,  .         .         .         .         .     174,920.17 

1813, 174,727.94 

1814, 214,225.09 


CITY  REVENUE.  355 


There  was  then  no  State  taxes  included  in  city 
taxation. 

The  ordinary  expenditures  for  the  year  ending 
December,  1812,  were  as  follows  : 

Almshouse,         ....        $74,000 
Lamps,     ....  .     27,000 

Watchmen,  ....         58,000 

County  contingencies,     .         .         .     49,000 

Total,         .         .         .         .  .     $208,000 

Amount  derived  by  revenue,  apart  from  direct 
taxation,  was  $34,080. 

The  ordinary  expenditures  for  1813  were  : 

Almshouse  and  Bridewell,  .        $70,000 

Watchmen,        .         .  .         .     55,000 

Fire  department,          .         .  10,000 

Lamps,     ....  .     33,000 

County  contingencies,          .  .        46,000 

Total $214,000 

Amount  raised    by    usual  revenue    apart  from 
taxation,  was  $39,272. 

In  1813  the  actual  revenue,  apart  from  direct  tax 
ation,  was  : 

Auction  sales    ....  $52,000 

Tavern  licenses  and  excise  .  10,000 

Eents  of  docks  and  slips      .        .  24,000 

Kent  and  sales  of  common  lands  .    85,000 

Ground  rents       .                           .  15,000 

Water  lot  rents         .        .        .  .7,000 

Market  fees  .         .        .         .  7,000 

Sale  of  street  manure        .        .  .     5,000 

Ferry  rents 8,000 

Total  $213,000 


356  THE  INTERNAL  TAX. 

A  large  portion  of  this  sum  was  applied  to  perma 
nent  improvements  and  interests  on  the  city  debt. 

In  1814  the  receipts  from  usual  revenue  were 
about  $125,000,  and  the  ordinary  expenses  for  carry 
ing  on  the  city  government  was  over  $230,000.  This 
latter  does  not  include  any  expenses  for  defence. 

Besides  all  this  it  was  probable  that  New  York 
city  would  be  called  upon  by  the  State  to  contribute 
by  taxation  towards  the  expenses  incurred  by  the 
State.* 

On  the  26th  of  January,  1814,  public  notice  was 
given  that  on  the  first  of  February,  or  immediately 
thereafter,  the  United  States  assistant  assessors  in 
New  York  city,  "  would  proceed  to  take  lists  of 
lands,  lots  of  ground,  with  their  improvements, 
dwelling  houses,  and  slaves  subject  to  the  United 
States  direct  tax  for  the  valuing  and  assessing  the 
same."  Garrett  N.  Bleecker  was  the  principal  as 
sessor  of  the  second  collection  district  of  New  York 
State  which  comprised  New  York  city  and  vicinity. 

An  internal  tax  was  established  by  act  of  July 
24  and  August  2,  1813,  to  take  effect  on  January  1, 
1814,  as  follows  : 

Sugar  refined  in  United  States,  per  pound,  4  cts. 

Carriages  for  passengers,  from  $2  to  $20  yearly. 

Licenses  to  distillers  of  spirituous  liquors:  (1)  ca 
pacity  of  the  still,  (2)  time  of  employing  it,  and  (3) 
materials  consumed. 

Licenses  to  retail  wines,  spirituous  liquors  and 

*This  actually  soon  occurred.  In  the  year  1814,  New  York  city 
was  assessed,  and  in  1815  paid  as  taxes  $163,372.08  for  State  pur 
poses,  while  the  city  and  county  tax  was  $197,613.38  for  the  latter 
year,  making  a  total  of  $361,285.46  taxation  for  the  year  1815.  That 
was  the  first  time  the  city  had  been  taxed  for  State  purposes,  and  it 
has  continued  every  year  up  to  the  present  time. 


INTERNAL  REVENUE.  357 

foreign  merchandise,  graduated  as  to  locality  and 
nature  of  the  article. 

Duty  on  notes  of  banks  and  bankers  and  on  bonds, 
obligations  and  promissory  notes  discounted  by 
banks  or  bankers,  and  on  foreign  or  inland  bills  of 
exchange  above  fifty  dollars,  and  having  one  or 
more,  endorsers  all  graduated  according  to  the  nomi 
nal  amount  of  the  instrument,  by  stamps. 

Auction  sales. 

Manufacture  of  salt,  50  cts.  bushel. 

There  were  also  heavy  duties  on  imported  goods. 

Foreign  tonnage  was  very  heavy,  being  25  per 
cent  extra  on  merchandise  imported  in  foreign  ves 
sels. 

Some  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  tax  by  internal 
duties  in  New  York  may  be  derived  by  the  follow 
ing  statement  of  the  receipts  for  the  first  two  quar 
ters  of  the  year  1814  from  January  1st  to  July  1st  : 

License  for  stills  and  boilers,      .      $15,4484 

Carriages, 21,687 

License  to  retailers,  .  .  .  156,492 
Auction  sales,  ....  8,872 
Stamped  paper  and  bank  notes,  51,936 

This  was  for  the  entire  State,  but  the  city  of  New 
York  contributed  at  least  three-fourths  of  the  above 
excepting  stills  which  were  numberless. 

The  amount  the  entire  year  for  1814  in  the  State 
of  New  York  was  as  follows: 

License  for  stills  and  boilers,        .  $232,180 

Carriages,         .         .         .        t  .     22,834 

License  to  retailers,      .         .        .  174,748 

Auction  sales,           .         .         .  .     48,480 

Kenned  sugar,      ....  7,468 


358  WAR  TAXES. 


Stamped  paper  and  bank  notes       .  $87,971 
Paid  by  banks  in  lieu  of  stamps,  .          8,289 

These  taxes  were  to  continue  during  the  war  and 
might  be  increased.  In  addition  to  this  taxation 
there  must  be  still  further  means  provided  for  ob 
taining  money  for  the  use  of  the  government.  An 
increase  of  taxation  was  sure  to  follow. 

A  strong  party  had  grown  in  the  New  England 
States  that  openly  threatened  the  existence  of  the 
Union,  and  this  would  mean  civil  war,  bankruptcy 
and  repudiation  of  the  national  obligations. 

Threatened  invasion  from  foes  without  and  dis 
sension  within,  could  not  be  otherwise  than  dispar 
aging  to  national  financial  security. 


CHAPTEE  XIX. 

Arrival  of    Major-General    Harrison— Coldly    Treated  by  City 

jj  [Officials— Causes  for  it— Attends  the  Theatres— Public  Dinner  to 

Gen.  .Harrison  at  Tammany  Hall— Toasts— Presentation  to 

Commodore  Bainbridge  and  Dinner  to  him  by  the  Federalists 

— Dinner  to  Commodore  Perry. 


'AJOR-GENERAL  William  Henry 
Harrison  arrived  in  the  city  on  Sun 
day,  November  28th.  He  left  Fort 
George,  on  Niagara  river,  in  Com 
modore  Chauncey's  fleet  and  sailed 
to  Sackett's  Harbor,  where  his  men 
were  placed  in  Winter  quarters. 
He  was  on  his  way  to  Washington, 
coming  here  by  steamboat  from 
Albany,  which  arrived  in  the  afternoon.  Gov. 
Tompkins  came  on  the  same  boat. 

Gen.  Harrison  did  not  stop  over  on  his  way  to  accept 
any  invitation  that  had  been  given  him  by  the  city 
authorities  or  the  expectation  of  any  special  honors 
being  shown  him  by  the  common  council,  for  they 
had  already  declined  to  take  any  official  action  to 
honor  him. 

In  speaking  of  the  illumination  on  the  23d  of  Oc 
tober,  the  Columbian  said: 

"  General  Harrison,  though  not  considered  in  New 
York  as  coming  quite  up  to  the  rank  of  i  the  Wash 
ington  of  the  West,'  is,  nevertheless,  deemed  too 
respectable  and  meritorious  in  his  station  to  be 


360  RESOLUTIONS  REJECTED  BY 

passed  over  in  total  silence,  as  was  almost  the  case 
on  Saturday  evening.  Nor  should  the  gallant  Pike 
have  been  entirely  forgotten,  as  it  seems  he  was. 
The  celebration  was  not  altogether  of  a  naval  kind. 
The  captors  of  York,  as  well  as  the  conquerors  of 
Proctor  and  Tecumseh,  are  entitled  to  the  first  con 
sideration  in  our  remembrance  of  the  victories  gained 
by  our  defenders  in  Upper  Canada.  Republics  should 
be  as  just  as  they  are  grateful  to  their  servants  and 
benefactors." 

At  the  special  meeting  of  the  common  council,  in 
the  afternoon  on  the  21st  of  October,  after  passing 
the  resolutions  offered  by  Mr.  King  for  an  illumina 
tion  of  the  City  Hall  in  honor  of  the  victories  in  the 
west,  the  following  resolutions  were  presented  by 
Alderman  Wendover: 

1  i  The]commoii*council,  sensibly  impressed  with  the 
happy  effects  resulting  to  our  community,  and  more 
particularly  to  our  western  brethren,  from  the  capture 
of  the  British  army  under  the  barbarous  Gen.  Proc 
tor,  and  the  defeat  of  his  savage  allies,  achieved  by 
the  heroic  Gen.  Harrison  and  his  patriotic  officers 
and  men  ; 

u  Resolved,  as  a  testimony  of  the  high  esteem  enter 
tained  by  the  common  council  for  the  military  tal 
ents  and  officerlike  conduct  of  Ma j. -Gen.  Wm. 
Henry  Harrison,  that  an  elegant  sword  be  presented 
him  by  this  common  council,  together  with  the  Free 
dom  of  the  city  in  a  gold  box,  each  to  contain  such 
devices  as  shall  be  sufficiently  descriptive  of  his 
courage  and  skill  in  this  noble  enterprise. 

"Resolved,  That  when  the  above  articles  are  pre 
pared  they  be  forwarded  to  Gen.  Harrison  accom 
panied  by  a  letter  from  this  board  to  be  prepared 


THE  COMMON  COUNCIL.  361 

by  his  honor,  the  Mayor,  and  committee  of  de 
fence. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  board  be  pre 
sented  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  Gen.  Harrison's 
army  for  their  fidelity  to  their  country,  eminently 
displayed  in  vanquishing  a  merciless  army  selected 
by  a  civilized  government  to  commit  heretofore  un 
heard  of  deeds  of  blood. 

"  Resolved,  That  his  honor,  the  Mayor,  be  re 
quested  to  forward  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  to 
Gen.  Harrison." 

Upon  the  question  of  agreeing  to  the  same  a  divi 
sion  having  been  called  it  appeared  as  negatived  as 
follows : 

Mr.  Recorder  Hoffman,  Alderman  Mesier,  Dickin 
son,  Cunningham,  Douglas,  Fish,  Messrs.  Nitchie, 
Brackett,  King,  Hedden,  Hardenbrook  and  Palmer 
-12. 

Affirmative — Aldermen  Buckmaster,  Wendover, 
Messrs.  Smith,  Mann  and  Waldron — 5. 

No  further  action  was  taken  in  the  matter. 

It  was  claimed  by  the  Federalists  that  none  of  the 
naval  commanders  had  a  sword  presented  to  them 
by  the  city,  although  they  had  shown  more  bravery 
than  Gen.  Harrison. 

Some  political  party  connivance  was  at  the  bottom 
of  the  offer  of  the  resolution  so  as  to  compel  its  re 
jection.  The  facts  were  swords  had  been  voted  to 
some  of  our  naval  heroes,  but  for  some  reason  they 
were  paid  for  by  private  contributions  and  not  from 
the  city  treasury. 

There  was  to  be  an  election  for  aldermen  and  as 
sistant  aldermen  commencing  on  the  16th  of  No 
vember,  and  to  close  on  the  18th.  During  the  year 


362  DEMOCRATS  PASS  RESOL  UT10NS. 

the  board  of  aldermen  and  assistants  had  been  Fed 
eralists  by  a  majority  of  two,  besides  the  recorder. 
Each  party  was  striving  in  eveiy  manner  to  gain  the 
majority. 

It  was  plain  that  the  offer  of  these  resolutions 
•was  for  the  purpose  of  having  them  rejected,  and  thus 
have  popular  opinion  against  the  board,  as  many  of 
them  were  up  for  re-election.  The  resolutions  and 
the  names  of  those  voting  on  them  were  not  pub 
lished  until  November  2d,  being  in  time  to  affect  the 
election  before  any  other  matter  intervened  to  draw 
away  public  attention.  Although  there  were  only 
a  few  voters  in  proportion  to  the  population,  yet 
every  effort  to  win  popular  opinion  was  made  by 
each  party  as  if  there  were  universal  suffrage,  by 
the  most  ignorant  voters. 

On  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  November  a  meet 
ing  of  the  Democratic  electors  of  the  fifth  ward  was 
held.  Among  the  resolutions  submitted  and  passed 
were  the  following  : 

"Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  the  corpo 
ration  in  relation  to  the  achievements  of  the  navy 
and  army  have  been  insidious  in  the  extreme,  and 
calculated  to  produce  dissension  and  jealousy  with 
men  who  are  united  i  heart  in  hand '  for  their  coun 
try's  good. 

i  i  Resolved,  That  under  the  terms  Republicans 
(Democrats)  and  Federalists,  we  formerly  con 
tended  with  each  other  on  matters  of  minor  im 
portance,  when  in  fact  we  were  'all  Republicans, 
all  Federalists.'  Now,  we  can  no  longer  recognize 
our  opponents  as  Federalists,  but  under  the  specious 
work  of  peace  men  we  discern  the  real  foe — the 
worst  of  enemy. 


CITY  CHARTER  ELECTION.  363 

"Resolved,  That  the  management  of  the  corpo 
rate  concerns  of  this  great  city  have  been  too  long 
in  the  hands  of  this  peace  faction,  and  that  the 
character  of  this  great  emporium  of  the  United 
States  and  the  best  interests  of  the  Union,  require 
Republicans  should  resume  its  government.-' 

Ex- Congressman  William  Paulding  was  chair 
man  and  James  Robertson  secretary  of  the  meeting. 

The  population  of  the  fifth  ward  at  that  time  was 
about  15,000.  The  number  of  voters  was  about 
fourteen  hundred. 

The  common  council  had  particularly  shown  their 
favoritism  to  the  navy  in  their  resolutions  and 
thanks  to  Com.  Bainbridge  and  his  capture  of  the 
Java  (ante,  p.  205.  See  also  resolutions  at  a  meet 
ing  of  citizens  on  Dec.  18,  1812,  ante,  p.  146). 

The  election  was  a  very  close  one.  In  the  fourth 
ward  a  Federalist  was  elected  by  only  one  majority, 
and  in  the  third  ward  another  Federalist  was  re- 
elected  by  only  fifteen  majority.  The  result  was 
that  the  aldermen  and  assistants  were  evenly  di 
vided.  The  mayor  had  only  a  casting  vote ;  both 
he  and  the  recorder  were  Federalists. 

This  election  is  notable  as  being  the  first  charter 
election  where  written  or  printed  tickets  were  used. 

Gov.  Tompkins  was  particularly  attentive  to  Gen. 
Harrison,  and  endeavored  to  make  his  stay  here  as 
agreeable  as  possible.  The  first  thing  at  hand  was 
to  have  Gen.  Harrison  attend  the  theaters. 

There  were  two  theaters  then  open  for  a  short 
season.  Standard  plays  were  produced  at  each  of 
them.  They  were  only  open  on  the  evenings  of 
Monday,  Wednesday  and  Friday  of  each  week. 

Cooper,  Simpson  and  Mrs.  Stanley  were  engaged  at 


GENERAL  HARRISON 


the  Park  Theater,  and  Mr.  Holman,  Mr.  Bernard, 
Mrs.  Burke  and  Miss  Holman  were  engaged  at  the 
Commonwealth  Theater  on  Broadway. 

They  opened  at  half-past  five  and  the  perform 
ances  commenced  at  half-past  six  and  continued 
late. 

On  Monday  evening,  the  29th,  Gov.  Tompkins  and 
Gen.  Harrison,  with  their  aides,  attended  the  Park 
Theater. 

The  play  was  the  "Virgin  of  the  Sun,"  after  which 
by  particular  desire  was  given  "Life  Below  Stairs." 
Mrs.  Oldmixon,  in  the  character  of  Kitty,  gave  a 
song.  The  front  of  the  theater  was  brilliantly  illu 
minated  in  honor  of  Gen.  Harrison's  attendance. 

The  "Virgin  of  the  Sun"  was  a  spectacular  musi 
cal  drama  of  three  acts  and  many  scenes.  It  con 
sisted  of  choruses,  marches,  bravuras,  etc.  It  was 
laid  in  Peru.  The  music  was  said  to  have  been 
remarkably  excellent.  The  storm  chorus  was  par 
ticularly  grand.  The  uproar  of  instrumental  mu 
sic,  the  chanting  of  the  vocal  choir  with  the  tem 
pest  of  rain  and  hail  for  an  accompaniment,  and 
the  rolling  thunder  claps  for  a  thorough  bass,  was 
said  to  be  astonishingly  and  fearfully  grand.  Then 
there  was  a  "live  volcano,"  and  an  earthquake  that 
made  the  spectators  tremble.  The  scenery  was  ex 
cellent.  There  were  thirteen  characters  in  the  play. 

In  consequence  of  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Harrison 
in  the  city  the  Commonwealth  was  opened  on  Tues 
day  evening  the  30th.  The  comedy  of  the  "Provoked 
Husband"  was  first  presented.  Then  a  grand  trans 
parency  was  produced,  representing  Gen.  Harrison 
receiving  the  Indian  hostages  and  the  chiefs  laying 
their  bows  and  arrows  at  his  feet. 


AT  THE  THEATER  365 

Another  was  produced,  exhibiting  Com.  Perry's 
victory  011  Lake  Erie,  and  in  the  background  De 
troit  in  flames. 

The  farce  was  "  Sprigs  of  Laurel,  or  the  Kival 
Soldiers. "  There  were  also  some  other  entertain 
ments  produced.  Gov.  Tompkins  and  Gen.  Harrison, 
with  their  aids,  were  present  in  full  dress  uniform. 

The  action  of  the  Federalists  led  to  a  dinner 
being  given  to  General  Harrison  at  Tammany  Hall 
on  December  1st,  in  the  afternoon,  under  the  direc 
tion  and  superintendence  of  the  State  Eepublican 
(Democratic)  general  committee  of  New  York.  Be 
sides  the  presence  of  the  distinguished  guest  there 
were  Gov.  Tompkins,  Major- Generals  Dearborn  and 
Hampton,  Judge  Brockholst  Livingston,  of  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court,  and  a  great  number 
of  officers  of  the  army  and  navy  and  of  the  volun 
teer  corps  of  the  city  attended.  Col.  Henry  Rut 
gers  presided. '  Gen.  Smith, *  Col.  John  Swartwout, 
Alderman  Buckmaster  and  Alderman  Wendover 
assisted  as  vice-presidents.  The  interior  of  the  din 
ner  room  was  handsomely  decorated  under  the  di 
rection  of  Mr.  Holland.  Two  transparencies  from 
the  pencil  of  that  gentleman  adorned  the  wall  at 
the  upper  and  lower  end  of  the  room.  One  rep 
resented  Gen.  Harrison  receiving  the  submission  of 
the  savage  allies,  who  were  surrendering  their  wea 
pons  and  the  presents  received  from  the  British  to 
the  conqueror  and  offering  their  squaws  and  pa 
pooses  as  hostages  of  their  fidelity,  f  The  other  ex- 

*  T.  W.  Smith,  Quartermaster  General  in  United  States  army 
in  the  third  military  district. 

f  This  representation  was  founded  upon  facts.  While  Harri 
son  was  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  up  the  Thames,  chiefs  of  the 
Miamis,  Ottawas,  Pottawatornies,  Chippewas,  and  Kickapoos 


366  DEMOCRATS  GIVE  DINNER 

hibited  the  American  eagle  standing  on  a  rock  in 
Lake  Erie  and  proudly  expanding  his  wings  over 
its  waters.  From  his  beak  proceeded  a  scroll  in 
scribed  "E  Pluribus  Unum." 

A  view  of  the  banks  and  distant  waters  of  the 
lake  filled  the  perspective.  The  tout  ensemble  pro 
duced  by  the  arrangement  of  flags,  the  paintings 
and  a  profusion  of  lights,  was  singularly  striking 
and  beautiful. 

On  the  front  of  Tammany  Hall  was  placed  a  very 
elegant  transparency  by  Mr.  Holland.     In  the  fore 
ground  several  Indian  chiefs  were  exhibited  in  pos 
tures  of  submission,  imploring  the  clemency  of  Gen. 
Harrison,  who  was  pointing  to  a  view  in  the  distance 
of  the  battle  of  the  10th  of  September.     This  trans 
parency  supported  another  in  the  form  of  an  ellip 
sis  on  which  was  inscribed  in  large  capital  letters, 
"  HARRISON." 
"  PERRY." 
"  DON'T  GIVE  UP  THE  SHIP." 

The  transparencies  were  presented  by  Mr.  Holland, 
who  also  volunteered  his  services  in  arranging  the 
decorations  of  the  hall. 

There  were  five  tables,  containing  sixty  covers 
each,  provided  for  the  company.  The  tables  and 
dishes  were  ornamented  by  representations  of  cas 
tles,  pyramids,  etc.  Messrs.  Martlin  and  Cozzens 
had  provided  everything  in  their  elegant  and  liberal 
manner. 

proposed  to  General  McArthur  at  Detroit,  a  suspension  of  hos 
tilities,  and  agreed  to  "take  hold  of  the  same  tomahawk  with 
the  Americans  and  to  strike  all  who  are  or  may  be  enemies  of 
the  United  States,  whether  British  or  Indians."  They  brought 
in  their  women  and  children  and  offered  them  as  hostages  for 
their  own  good  behavior.  Lossing's  Pictorial  Field-book  of  the 
War  of  1812. 


AT  TAMMANY  HALL.  367 

The  distinguished  guests  were  received  at  the 
dining-room  with  the  music  of  "  Hail  Columbia" 
from  'a  full  band. 

As  soon  as  the  company,  which  numbered  about 
300,  had  assembled  at  the  table,  a  prayer  was 
offered  by  Kev.  Peter  J.  Van  Pelt,  the  chaplain  for 
the  third  military  district ;  a  similar  ceremony  was 
observed  at  the  removal  of  the  cloth.  John  Fergu 
son  was  toast  master. 

The  following  toasts  were  drank,  interspersed 
with  excellent  songs  from  gentlemen  of  the  compa 
ny  and  music  from  the  band.  The  regular  toasts 
were  : 

1.  "  Our  country.     Distinguished  by  its  blessings, 
may.  it  be  as  distinguished  by  the  attachment  of  its 
citizens."     Three  cheers. 

2.  "The  constitution  of  the    United    States.     A 
monument  of  the  wisdom  of  our  fathers.     May  it 
be  perpetuated  by  the  virtue  and   valor  of    their 
sons."     Three  cheers. 

3.  "The  Union  of  the  States.     The  palladium   of 
national  safety.     The  pledge  of  our  national  glory. " 
Six  cheers. 

4:.  i '  The  war.  Having  drawn  the  sword  in  the 
defense  of  our  rights,  let  it  never  be  sheathed  until 
these  rights  are  secured."  Six  cheers. 

5.  "  The  army.     May  they  never  forget  that  they 
are  the  soldiers  of  freedom  and  the  champions  of 
their  country's  honor."    Nine  cheers. 

6.  ' '  The  navy.     In  proud  defiance  it  sweeps  old 
ocean's  surge,  bearing  in  its  bosom  destruction  to 
the  tyrant   and  redemption  to   the    slave."    Nine 
cheers. 

7.  "The  President  of  the  United  States.     Honored 


368  DEMOCRATS  AT  D1NNEE 

in  the  attachment  of  the  American  people  and  in 
the  fears  and  hatred  of  their  enemies."  Three  cheers. 

8.  "The  memory  of  Washington,  the  father  of  his 
country.     First   in  war,  first  in  peace,  and  first  in 
the  hearts  of  his  countrymen." 

9.  "Thomas  Jefferson.     A  name  ever  to  be  re 
vered  while  the  independence  of  his  country  is  dear 
to  its  sons."    Nine  cheers. 

10.  "The  heroes  who  fell  in  the  war  of  our  Revolu 
tion.     What  need  of  sculptured  marble   to   record 
their  fame  ?    It  lives  imperishable  in  the  hearts  of 
their  descendants  ;  a  constant  monitor  to  virtuous 
deeds." 

11.  "  The  veteran  patriot  and  soldier,  Gov.  Shelby, 
(of  Kentucky)."     Twelve  cheers. 

12.  "  The  people   of    the    Western    States.      Re 
nowned    for  their   courage  to  conquer,   and  their 
humanity  to  spare."     Nine  cheers. 

13.  "  Commodore  Perry  and  Captain  Elliot.    The 
heroes  of  Lake  Erie,  who  have  borne  their  country's 
standard  in  triumph  over  the  waters  of  the  west." 
Six  cheers. 

14:.  "  The  plaudits  of  a  grateful  people.  The 
patriot  hero's  best  reward."  Nine  cheers.  Music, 
"  Harrison's  March." 

15.  "  Our  naval  and   military  heroes  who  have 
fallen  in  the  present  contest. 

''How  sleep  the  brave  who  sink  to  rest 
With  all  their  country's  wishes  blest." 

16.  "Sailors'1   rights  and  free  trade.     'Let  the 
flag  wave  while  we  live.' '     Nine  cheers. 

17.  "  The  citizen  soldier — whom  party  cannot  se 
duce  nor  authority  deter  from  his  duty. "  Six  cheers. 

18.  "  The  conquest  of  Canada.     A  retribution  for 


AT   TAMMANY  HALL.  369 

violated  faith  and  lawless  plunder ;  the  only  security 
for  a  lasting  and  honorable  peace."  Twelve 
cheers. 

The  volunteer  toasts  were  as  follows  : 

By  Major-Gen.  Harrison. — "  The  freedom  of  the 
seas,  and  the  adoption  hy  our  government  of  the 
Koman  maxim  which  secured  to  the  citizen  his 
inviolability."  Twelve  cheers. 

By  Gen.  Hampton.—"  The  State  of  New  York." 
Six  cheers. 

By  Gen.  Dearborn. — "An  honorable  peace,  or  a 
vigorous  war."  Six  cheers. 

After  Gen.  Harrison,  Gen.  Dearborn,  Gen.  Hamp 
ton  and  Gov.  Tompkins  had  retired,  Col.  Rutgers 
(the  president)  gave  the  following  : 

"Major-Gen.  Harrison,  the  deliverer  of  our 
western  frontier."  Seventeen  cheers. 

" Major- Gen.  Dearborn."     Twelve  cheers. 

" Major- Gen.  Hampton."     Twelve  cheers. 

"Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  the  governor  of  the 
State  of  New  York."  Twelve  cheers. 

By  Col.  Rutgers. — "  The  western  heroes,  prompt 
and  decided  in  council,  energetic  in  the  field."  Nine 
cheers. 

By  Col.  Swartwout. — "The  department  of  war;  it 
is  conducted  with  intelligence  and  industry  ;  may 
its  views  be  executed  with  promptness  and  ability." 
Three  cheers. 

By  Gen.  Smith. — "The  patriotic  ladies  of  the 
United  States,  who  encouraged  their  husbands, 
their  sweethearts  and  their  sons  to  avenge  the 
wrongs  of  their  country."  Six  cheers. 

By  Alderman  Wendover. — "The  Federal  Union, 
the  main  prop  of  our  liberty  ;  like  Washington, 


370  ATTEND  THE  THEATKR. 

let  us  distrust  the  patriotism  of   those  who,  in  any 
quarter,  endeavor  to  weaken  it."     Three  cheers. 

By  Alderman  Buckmaster.  -*-"  Union  in  our 
councils  and  discipline  in  our  armies."  Three 
cheers. 

After  Col.  Rutgers  had  retired,  Mr.  James  Town- 
send  gave  : 

"  Our  venerable  president  and  friend,  Col.  Henry 
Rutgers,  than  whom  a  more  uniform,  correct  and 
honest  republican  does  not  exist."  Nine  cheers. 

Gen.  Hampton  and  his  suite  came  on  the  steam 
boat  from  Albany  on  that  afternoon  but  did  not  ar 
rive  in  time  to  partake  of  the  dinner,  but  he  was 
there  when  the  toasts  were  given.  On  his  entering 
the  dining-room  the  company  gave  him  three 
cheers. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  mayor,  DeWitt  Clinton, 
was  not  present.  This  was  owing  to  party  feeling. 
Whether  he  had  a  formal  invitation  or  not,  is  not 
known,  but  it  is  known  that  he  would  not  have 
found  friends  or  congenial  spirits  there. 

After  the  toasts  were  finished  Gov.  Tompkiiis, 
Gen.  Harrison  and  Gen.  Hampton,  with  their  aides, 
all  in  full  dress  uniform,  proceeded  to  the  Park 
Theater,  which  had  been  prepared  for  the  distin 
guished  visitors. 

The  front  of  the  theater  was  illuminated  by  a 
new  transparency  which  represented  Gen.  Harri 
son  in  the  foreground,  as  though  giving  directions 
after  the  battle  of  the  Thames.  Four  cannon  were 
seen  as  if  taken  from  the  enemy,  and  in  the  distance 
the  surrender  of  the  British  forces  under  Gen. 
Proctor.  On  the  entablature  of  the  transparency 
were  the  words  ' c  The  Trophies  we  won  at  Saratoga, 


COM.  BA1NBRIDGE  ARRIVES.  371 

lost  at  Detroit,  are  regained  on  the  banks  of  the 
Erie." 

The  performance  commenced,  by  request,  by  the 
play  entitled  "All  in  Good  Humor ;"  after  which 
"Macbeth  "was  given  by  Mr.  Cooper  as  Macbeth 
and  Mrs.  Stanley  as  Lady  Macbeth.  The  conclud 
ing  piece  was  "The  Youthful  Tar,  or  the  Glorious 
10th  of  September,"  alluding  to  Perry's  victory. 

Gen.  Harrison  and  his  aids  left  for  Philadelphia 
the  next  day. 

Commodore  Baiiibridge  had  arrived  in  the  city  and 
given  notice  that  he  would  accept  the  honors  ac 
corded   him  by  the  common  council  by  resolutions 
already  set  forth  (ante,  p.  205). 

In  the  morning,  about  twelve  o'clock,  on  Decem 
ber  8th,  he  proceeded  to  the  common  council  cham 
ber,  by  invitation,  and  being  introduced  by  Alder 
men  Mesier  and  Buckrnaster,  the  committee  ap 
pointed  for  that  purpose,  the  members  received  him 
standing.  He  was  presented  to  the  mayor,  who 
made  a  short  and  appropriate  address.  The  oath 
of  a  freeman  of  the  city  was  then  administered  by 
the  mayor,  and  a  certificate  thereof  presented  in  a 
gold  box  which  was  three  inches  in  diameter  and 
one  inch  in  depth.  On  the  inside  of  the  lid  was  in 
scribed  "  The  corporation  of  the  city  of  New  York 
to  Commodore  William  Baiiibridge,  of  the  United 
States  frigate  Constitution,  in  testimony  of  the 
high  sense  they  entertain  of  his  gallantry  and  skill 
in  the  capture  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship  Java 
on  the  29th  of  December,  1812."* 

The  Commodore  made  a   brief    reply  and  with- 

*  His  portrait,  painted  by  Jarvis,  was  subsequently  placed  in 
the  Governor's  room  in  the  City  Hall  where  it  now  remains. 


372  FEDERALISTS  GIVE  DINNER 

drew.  On  leaving  the  City  Hall  he  was  greeted 
with  the  huzzas  of  a  large  concourse  of  citizens. 

The  Federalists  were  not  to  be  thought  behind  in 
showing  honors  to  the  brave,  so  on  the  same  day  of 
the  presentation  to  Com.  Bainbridge,  they  gave  him 
a  subscription  dinner  at  Washington  Hall  in  the 
afternoon. 

The  following  notice  of  it  was  published  : 

"  Those  gentlemen  who  wish  to  attend  a  public 
dinner  to  be  given  to  Com.  Bainbridge,  this  after 
noon,  at  Washington  Hall,  at  four  o'clock,  are  re 
quested  to  apply  for  tickets  to  either  of  the  follow 
ing  :  William  Neilsoii,  Jr.,  Aug.  H.  Lawrence, 
David  B.  Ogden,  Phillip  Hone,  Thos.  G.  Butler, 
George  Brinkerhoff. 

Mr.  John  B.  Coles  presided  ;  Mr.  Henderson,  Gen. 
Jacob  Morton  and  Mr.  Sebring,  were  vice-presidents. 
The  guests,  besides  Com.  Bainbridge,  were  Gov. 
Tompkins,  Mayor  Clinton,  Ma  j. -Generals  Dearborn 
and  Stevens,  Judges  Brockholst  Livingston,  Van 
Ness  and  Benson,  and  the  officers  of  the  navy  on  the 
New  York  station.  The  room  was  handsomely  dec 
orated  with  transparencies  and  flags  emblematic  of 
our  naval  victories.  About  150  citizens  attended. 

The  regular  toasts  related  to  general  subjects, 
the  navy  and  naval  heroes  in  particular,  that  did 
not  show  political  bias,  and  were  thirteen  in  num 
ber  to  represent  the  original  States. 

The  volunteer  toasts  were  numerous  and  more 
expressive  of  political  opinion. 

Maj.-Gen.  Stevens  gave  "  The  President  and  Con 
gress  at  sea — May  the  message  and  reports  from 
them  be  in  the  spirit  of  the  Constitution" 

Mr.  Sebring  gave  '''American  wooden  walls    as 


TO   COMMODORE  BAINBRIDGE.  373 


numerous  as  they  ought  to  be  and  well  manned, 
the  only  security  our  sailors  want  for  their 
rights. " 

The  volunteer  toasts  were  by  Commodore  Bain- 
bridge,  Gov.  Tompkins,  Mayor  Clinton,  Gen.  Dear 
born,  Gen.  Stevens,  Messrs.  Coles,  Henderson  and 
Sebring,  Gen.  Morton.  Alderman  Lawrence  was 
called  to  the  chair  after  the  President  had  retired, 
and  toasted  him  and  the  memory  of  Alexander 
Hamilton. 

The  officers  of  the  Washington  Benevolent  Soci 
ety  were  as  follows  : 

Isaac  Sebring,  President. 

Jacob  Eadcliff,  First  Vice-President. 

Zachariah  Lewis,  Second  Yice-President. 

Leonard  Fisher,  Treasurer. 

George  B.  Rapelye,  Secretary. 

Standing  committee  were  : 

John  Baker,  John  P.  Groshon,  Charles  Stewart, 
Lewis  Hartman. 

In  the  evening  Com.  Bainbridge  attended  the 
Park  Theater.  The  front  of  it  was  illuminated  by 
a  transparency  of  the  victory  of  the  Constitution 
over  the  Java.  The  play  was  ' '  Sylvester  Dagger- 
wood,'-  after  which  "Pizarro"  was  given,  being  a 
sequel  to  the  "  Virgin  of  the  Sun."  The  after  piece 
was  ''  Turn  Out." 

The  Commonwealth  Theater  was  open  on  that 
evening  in  honor  of  the  arrival  of  Commodore 
Bainbridge  in  the  city.  The  comedy  of  "The 
Soldier's  Daughter  "  was  produced,  after  which  a 
transparency  of  the  commodore  was  exhibited,  and 
another  with  a  view  of  the  battle  between  the  Con 
stitution  and  the  Java,  with  the  song  and  chorus 


374  I'AMMANY  GIVES 

of  "  To  arms  !  to  arms  !  Columbia's  sons,  to  arms  !" 
The  afterpiece  was  "The  Purse,  or  American  Tar." 

The  next  public  dinner  given  during  the  holiday 
season  was  to  Com.  Perry  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
llth  of  January,  1814,  at  Tammany  Hall.  The  reso 
lutions  of  the  common  council  on  October  4th  (ante, 
p.  318)  granting  him  the  freedom  of  the  city,  in  a 
gold  box,  etc. ,  was  offered  by  a  Federalist.  They 
seemed  to  desire  to  be  thought  the  first  to  honor 
him.  He  arrived  in  the  city  on  the  7th  of  January, 
from  his  home  in  Newport,  R.  I.  The  Democrats 
had  hastened  to  be  the  first  to  give  him  a  public 
dinner  in  this  city,  presumably  under  their  own 
auspices,  but  left  it  open  to  be  attended  by  any 
Federalist  who  felt  inclined  to  do  so. 

The  following  announcement  was  published  : 

"  Gentlemen  who  wish  to  attend  the  public  din 
ner  to  be  given  in  honor  of  Com.  Perry,  at  Tam 
many  Hall,  on  Tuesday  next,  will  please  apply  for 
tickets  to  one  of  the  following  named  persons : 
John  L.  Broome,  John  T.  Irving,  Fred.  Jenkins, 
Walter  Bowne,  Edward  H.  Nicoll,  John  Rathbone, 
Jr.,  Abraham  Staggv' 

At  that  time  about  350  citizens  partook  of  the 
entertainment. 

Major  James  Fairlie  was  president.  The  vice- 
presidents  were  Messrs.  Augustus  Wright,  Jona 
than  Lawrence,  Thomas  Farmer,  John  Bingharn, 
William  Irving  and  George  Buckmaster.  All  of 
them  were  active  Democrats. 

[Seven  tables  were  spread  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  company,  one  crossing  the  hall  at  the  eastern 
end  and  the  others  leading  from  it  to  the  lower  part 
of  the  room.  The  guests  were  seated  at  the  cross- 


DINNER    TO    COM.   PKRRT.  375 

table,  which  was  elevated  on  a  platform  so  the  as 
sembly  could  have  an  uninterrupted  view  of  the 
guests. 

The  tables  were  beautifully  embellished  by  numer 
ous  ornaments  interspersed  among  the  dishes,  dis 
playing  American  flags. 

The  pillars  of  the  hall  were  surrounded  with 
clusters  of  flag  staves,  bearing  American  colors, 
which  were  supported  by  representations  of  the 
stern  of  a  vessel  of  war  ;  a  drapery  composed  of 
naval  flags  connected  the  pillars  and  relieved  the 
walls. 

The  decorations  of  the  hall  were  arranged  under 
the  gratuitous  direction  of  Mr.  Holland.  Five 
transparent  paintings  from  his  pencil  adorned  the 
walls.  Two  of  them  presented  full  length  likeness 
es  of  the  naval  heroes,  Hull  and  Bainbridge,  sur 
rounded  with  appropriate  devices.  The  third,  which 
was  placed  at  the  lower  part  of  the  hall  directly  op 
posite  the  guests,  exhibited  a  large  eagle  bearing  in 
his  beak  and  talons  a  scroll  inscribed  in  large 
capitals:  "  We  have  met  the  enemy  and  they  are 
ours."  This  painting  covered  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  square  feet  of  canvas.  The  fourth  and 
most  brilliant  transparency  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
room  behind  the  guests,  and  filled  a  space  of  two 
hundred  and  sixteen  square  feet.  In  the  fore 
ground  was  seen  the  disabled  brig  Lawrence  and 
her  boat,  with  the  commodore  in  the  act  of  passing 
from  her  to  the  Niagara.  The  sailors  were  repre 
sented  in  the  act  of  pushing  the  boat  with  their  oars 
from  the  side  of  the  vessel.  The  hero  was  exhibited 
standing  at  the  stern  giving  orders  to  Lieut.  Yar- 
iiall.  In  his  left  hand  he  supported  a  staff  on  which 


376  TOASTS  AND  MUSIC. 

was  hoisted  the  signal  banner  inscribed,  "  Don't  give 
up  the  ship."  In  his  right  hand  he  held  a  sabre, 
with  which  he  was  expressively  pointing  to  the  brig 
Niagara.  In  the  distance  was  a  view  of  the  en 
gagement.  All  the  figures  were  life  size,  that  of 
Perry,  was  a  portrait.  There  were  also  handsome 
models  in  miniature  of  the  frigate  Constitution  and 
sloop- of -war  Hornet  suspended  from  the  ceiling, 
and  two  privateers  under  full  sail  on  the  guests, 
table. 

After  the  company  was  seated,  Commodore  Perry 
with  the  other  guests  and  the  officers  of  the  day 
entered  the  hall.  On  his  appearance  the  band  struck 
up  "Hail  Columbia,"  and  the  company  arose  and 
gave  three  hearty  cheers. 

The  toasts  and  music  were  as  follows  : 

1.  "  The  President  of  the  United  States  of  Amer 
ica." 

Music — "Hail  Columbia." 

2.  "The  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York." 
Music — "  Tompkins'  March." 

3.  "  Our  Country,,  appreciating  the  bravery  and 
worth  of  her  defenders,  and  proving  to  the  world 
that  republics  are  not  ungrateful." 

Music — "  Yankee  Doodle." 

4.  "  The  rights  and  interests  of  the  Republic  sup 
ported  with  manty  fortitude  through  every  crisis." 

Music — "  Hail  Columbia." 

5.  "  National  Honor— the  rallying  point  of  high 
minds  and  gallant  spirits.     May  it  never  be  sacri 
ficed  to  individual  gain  or  party  interest." 

Music—"  Washington's  March." 

6.  "  The  glorious  Wth  of  September,  1813,  immor- 


TOASTS  AND  MUSIC.  377 

talized  in  the  annals  of  fame  by  the   capture  of  a 
British  fleet  by  one  of  inferior  force." 
Music — u  The  Conquering  Hero." 

7.  "  Our  Navy — The  stone  that  smote  the  Goliah 
of  the  ocean. " 

Music— "America,  Commerce  and  Freedom." 

8.  "  Our    naval    heroes — stars  to   their   country, 
stripes  to  its  enemies." 

Music — "  The  Marines." 

9.  "  Somers,  Wadsivorth  and  Israel — martyrs  be 
fore  the  walls  of  Tripoli. " 

Music — "  Dirge  in  Cymbeline." 

10.  "Lawrence,  Pike,  Covington,  Allen  and  Bur  - 
rows— like  stars  of  the  battle  they  set,  but  enough 
of  their  glory  remains  on  each  sword  to  light  us  to 
victory  yet." 

Music — "  Roslyii  Castle." 

11.  "The  Army — composed  of  daring  and  manly 
spirits— under  proper  guidance,   it  will  reach   the 
summit  of  national  glory." 

Music — "  Battle  of  Marengo." 

12.  "Major-Gen.     Harrison — undaunted   in    the 
hour  of   danger,  generous  in  the  hour  of  victory, 
who  spared  those  who  were  never  known  to  spare." 

Music.  —  "  Harrison's  March." 

13.  "  The  venerable  Shelby  and  his  volunteer  asso 
ciates — citizen  soldiers  worthy  of  their  leader  and 
their  leader  every  way  worthy  of  them." 

Song,  "The  Volunteer." 

14.  "  Col.  Croghan — the  gallant  defender  of  Fort 
Stephenson,    who  proved  that  intrepidity  is  more 
than  a  match  for  numbers." 

Music— Grand  March,  "  Battle  of  Prague." 

15.  "  The  memory  of  Washington — the  model  of  a 


378  VOLUNTEER   TOASTS. 

republican  magistrate,  who  governed  his  country 
only  to  serve  it,  whose  ambition  was  to  be  good 
rather  than  great,  and  who  became  great  by  being 
pre-eminently  good." 

Music — "Portuguese  Hymn/' 

16.  "Real  patriots  of  all  parties, — they  may  be 
embarked  in  different   ships,  under  different  com 
manders  and  wafted  asunder  by  different  winds   of 
doctrine,  but  their  port  of  destination  is  the  same, 
and  so  long  as  honesty  is   their  rudder,  truth  their 
needle,  and  public  good  their  polar  star,  they  will 
often     fall    in     company    in    the    course     of    the 
voyage. " 

Music — "  Yankee  Doodle." 

17.  "Retaliation, — the  reluctant,    but  necessary 
fiat  of  retributive  justice,  exercised  not  to  present 
passion,  but  to  prevent  future  outrage." 

Music— "Troops." 

18.  "  Our  fair  countrywomen — protected  and  de 
fended,   their  smiles   and  their  hearts   are  all  the 
recompense  of  valor." 

Music,  "  Here's  a  health  to  all  good  Lasses."* 

VOLUNTEER  TOASTS. 

By  Com.  Perry— "The  union  of  the  States." 
After  Com.  Perry  had  retired— 
By  the  President — "Com.  Perry." 
By  Mr.  Wm.  Irving — "  Capt.   Elliot,  the   intrepid 
coadjutor  of  Com.  Perry." 

By   Mr.    Augustus    Wright — "The  government, 


*  We  miss  from  this  selection  of  music  the  hallowed  strains  of 
the  Star  Spangled  Banner.  The  song-  was  not  then  written. 
The  tune  to  which  the  words  are  sung  was  an  Irish  air  called 
"  Anacreon  in  Heaven."  They  are  now  so  inseparably  connected 
that  the  tune  is  known  as  the  Star  Spangled  Banner. 


VOLUNTEER    TOASTS.  379 

while  negotiating  for  an  honorable  peace,  may  it 
not  relax  in  the  arrangement  for  war." 

By  Gen.  T.  W.  Smith — "Com.  Kodgers,  who  has 
only  wanted  an  opportunity  to  add  another  frigate 
to  our  navy." 

By  Gen.  Jonas  Mapes — <%  Capt.  Isaac  Hull,  who 
opened  the  door  that  leads  into  the  temple  of  our 
naval  glory." 

By  Doctor  Bullus* — "Com.  Chauncey,  the  gallant 
hero  of  Lake  Ontario." 

By  Mr.  John  Haff — "Capt.  Porter,  who  has  as 
serted  the  rights  of  America  to  the  freedom  of  the 
seas  in  both  hemispheres." 

The  absence  of  army  officers  is  accounted  for  in 
consequence  of  the  large  number  of  prominent 
military  officers  stationed  at  New  York,  who  were 
at  Albany  engaged  in  the  court-martial  trial  of 
Gen.  Hull,  which  convened  at  Albany  on  the  third 
of  January,  1814.  The  state  legislature  was  to  meet 
at  Albany  on  the  12th  of  January,  and  Governor 
Tompkins'  engagements  were  such  that  he  did  not 
attend  the  dinner. 

*  Dr.  John  Bullus  was  then  navy  agent  for  the  port  of  New 
York.  He  with  his  wife  and  children  were  on  board  the  frigate 
Chesapeake  in  1807,  when  she  was  fired  into  by  the  British 
frigate  Leopard  in  Hampton  Roads.  Dr.  Bullus  was  then  on 
his  way  to  a  consulate  on  the  Mediterranean.  After  this  affair 
the  Chesapeake  returned  to  port  and  Dr.  Bullus  relinquished  the 
consulate  appointment  and  received  that  of  navy  agent  for  the 
port  of  New  York,  which  he  held  during  the  war  of  1812-15.  He 
had  been  surgeon  in  the  navy.  He  was  the  intimate  friend  and 
hospitable  entertainer  of  all  the  naval  officers  and  heroes  of  that 
day,  as  well  as  one  of  our  most  prominent  citizens.  He  then 
resided  at  69  Greenwich  Street  in  a  spacious  mansion.  He  was 
head  of  the  firm  of  Bullus,  Decatur&  Rucker,  extensive  manu 
facturers  of  gunpowder  during  the  war.  He  subscribed  ten 
thousand  dollars  to  the  government  loan  of  February,  1813  (Ante, 
p.  348)  His  son,  Dr.  Robert  S.  Bulluf,  married  a  daughter  of 
Gen.  Morton. 


380  COM.   PERRY  ATTENDS  A  BALL. 

In  the  course  of  the  evening  Com.  Perry  attended 
Mrs.  Burke' s  u  grand  concert  and  ball  "at  Wash 
ington  Hall  given  for  the  benefit  of  Mrs.  Burke. 
It  was  previously  announced  that  he  would  attend 
on  that  evening.  The  leader  of  the  band  was  Mr. 
Nicolai,  and  the  manager  of  the  ball  was  Mr.  Char- 
raud.  Tickets  of  admission  were  one  dollar.  The 
ball  took  place  after  the  concert. 

Com.  Perry  left  New  York  city  the  next  day  for 
Philadelphia. 

It  should  be  observed  that  the  freedom  of  the  city 
was  not  given  to  Commodore  Perry  at  this  time  by 
the  mayor  and  common  council,  in  accordance  with 
the  resolution  of  October  4.  It  may  riot  have  been 
ready,  or  there  may  have  been,  some  political  feel 
ing  on  the  part  of  the  Federalists  in  the  common 
council  that  delayed  it.  It  is  very  probable  that  he 
came  to  New  York  city  from  his  home  in  Newport 
by  express  invitation  to  accept  the  public  dinner 
offered  him  by  citizens  at  Tammany  Hall. 

On  January  13th  it  was  announced  that  Mr. 
Hulett's  practicing  ball  would  take  place  at  Tam 
many  Hall  that  evening  and  that  the  decoration 
used  at  the  Perry  dinner  would  not  be  removed. 

This  was  because  Mr.  Hulett  had  given  up  his 
prior  engagement  of  the  hall  for  the  ball  on  the 
evening  of  the  dinner. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


The  Enemy  at  Sandy  Hook—  Cannonade  of  Long  Branch  Village 
—  Shipping  jind  Trade  in  the  City  —  Privateer  Owners'  Peti 
tion  to  Congress  —  Laws  for  Their  Benefit  —  The  Enemy's  War 
Vessels  near  by  —  Licensed  Vessels  made  Subject  to  Capture  — 
The  Non-importation  Laws  —  Resolutions  by  New  York  Mer 
chants  —  Blockade  Extended  —  Coasting  Trade  —Smuggling  — 
Inland  Transportation. 


entry  to  the  port  of  New  York  by 
Sandy  Hook  had  been  so  strictly 
blockaded  through  the  Summer  and 
Autumn  of  1813,  that  very  few  ves 
sels  even  attempted  to  enter  that  way, 
while  none  passed  out.  Occasionally 
it  was  deemed  safe  for  small  vessels 
to  run  the  blockade.  Many  captures  were  made. 
There  were  often  many  days  at  a  time  when  even  a 
small  fishing  smack  did  not  dare  to  make  the  attempt 
to  pass  in  or  out. 

Many  of  the  little  craft  captured  by  the  Plantag- 
enet  (seventy-four  guns,  Capt.  R.  Lloyd),  were  ran 
somed  at  from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred  dollars 
each.  Among  the  captures  was  a  coaster  with  an 
organ  for  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church  in  New 
York.  It  was  ransomed  at  $2,000.  The  organ  had 
been  ordered  at  Philadelphia  for  $6,000  before  the 
war  commenced,  and  had  run  the  blockade  in  Dela 
ware  bay  on  the  way  to  New  York  when  it  was 
captured  near  Sandy  Hook. 


382  SKIRMISH  WITH  THE  ENEMY. 

Two  or  three  war  vessels  were  sufficient  to  effect 
ually  blockade  the  pass  at  Sandy  Hook.  Some 
times  the  firing  on  a  vessel  would  take  place,  but 
this  was  seldom  necessary. 

On  the  29th  of  November  the  Plantagenet  chased 
on  shore,  about  twelve  miles  below  Sandy  Hook,  and 
four  miles  from  Long  Branch  village,  the  schooner 
John  and  Mary,  from  New  Orleans,  bound  to  New 
York  with  cotton,  sugar  and  lead  to  Cox  &  Mon- 
taudavert  (the  brothers-in-law  of  the  late  Capt. 
James  Lawrence).  The  schooner  was  taken  pos 
session  of  by  the  boats  from  the  Plantagenet,  and 
about  half  the  cargo  taken  out.  When  the  circum 
stance  was  discovered  by  the  officers  belonging  to 
the  flotilla,  one  hundred  men  were  immediately  de 
tached  with  small  arms,  under  the  command  of  sail 
ing-master  Percival,  and  the  British  were  driven  off, 
carrying  with  them  the  plunder  they  had  secured. 
A  flag  of  truce  was  then  sent  on  shore  from  the 
British  commander,  claiming  the  schooner  as  his 
prize  and  offering  to  ransom  her  for  a  thousand 
dollars;  if  this  demand  was  not  complied  with,  he 
threatened  to  destroy  the  schooner  and  the  houses 
at  Long  Branch. 

Sailing-master  Rogers,  who  received  the  flag,  said 
he  did  not  understand  how  the  schooner  could  be  a 
British  prize,  for  she  wras  now  in  our  possession, 
and  we  would  defend  her.  As  soon  as  the  flag  re 
turned  a  heavy  fire  was  opened  from  the  Plantage 
net,  which  continued  until  dark  ;  nearly  seven,  hun 
dred  shots  were  thrown  on  shore.  Notwithstand 
ing  the  firing  the  men  proceeded  to  take  and  secure 
what  cargo  the  British  had  left.  Only  one  man 
was  hurt,  who  was  wounded  by  a  splinter.  The 


IDLE  SHIPPING.  383 


houses  were  not  touched  and  the  schooner  was  very 
little  injured. 

There  were  two  French  passengers  on  board  the 
schooner,  one  of  whom  made  his  escape,  the  other 
was  taken  prisoner.* 

Long  Island  Sound  not  being  blockaded,  an  active 
coasting  business  could  safely  be  kept  up  by  numer 
ous  small  vessels  running  between  the  ports  on 
the  Sound  and  New  York  city  by  the  way  of  Hell 
Gate.  This  opportunity  was  actively  availed  of; 
from  six  to  twelve  vessels  of  various  sizes  each  day 
arrived  or  departed  that  way.  None  of  the  ports 
in  the  New  England  States  were  blockaded,  and  the 
trade  by  imports  and  exports  was  active  among 
them,  which  New  York  shared  by  means  of  many 
small  coasters  as  well  as  transportation  by  land. 

There  were,  however,  many  vessels  idle.  The 
number  of  ships  and  brigs  out  of  employ,  laid  up 
and  dismantled  in  New  York  city,  at  the  Hudson 
river  docks  and  piers  on  September  27,  1813,  was 
one  hundred  and  twenty-two,  besides  eighteen 
sloops  and  schooners. 

We  have  already  seen  how  active  the  fitting  out 
of  privateers  from  New  York  was  in  1812.  It  con 
tinued  until  July,  1813,  when  the  port  was  more 
closely  blockaded  as  to  neutral  trading  vessels.  It 
still  continued,  but  most  of  them  put  to  sea  by  sail 
ing  through  Hell  Gate  and  Long  Island  Sound,  in 
disguise,  where  the  enemy's  vessels  were  also  on  the 
alert  for  them. 

Privateering  had  also  somewhat  [languished  be- 

*  According  to  the  cartel  existing-  as  to  the  exchange  of 
prisoners  non-combatants  engaged  in  peaceful  pursuits  could 
not  be  taken  as  prisoners  (ante,  p.  284).  This  did  not  apply  to 
citizens  of  France  with  whom  England  was  then  at  war. 


384  OWNERS  OF  PR1VATEEKS 

cause  of  the  high  custom  duties  upon  goods  brought 
into  American  ports  by  privateers  and  also  that 
prizes,  when  condemned,  must  be  sold  by  the 
marshal  and  the  proceeds  deposited  in  the  hands 
of  the  clerk  of  the  court,  to  be  by  him  distributed. 
After  paying  wharfage  and  other  'expenses,  besides 
the  marshal1  s  and  clerk's  commissions,  which 
amounted  to  one  and  a  quarter  per  cent  each,  and 
the  invalid  fund  of  two  per  cent  more,  and  the  cus 
tom  duties  on  the  goods,  which  were  often  one 
hundred  per  cent,  left  very  little  for  the  owners, 
officers  and  crews  of  privateers. 

In  the  winter  of  1812  a  memorial  was  presented 
to  Congress  specifying  the  evils  then  existing  under 
the  law  and  practice  in  the  city  of  New  York,  ask 
ing  for  and  suggesting  such  changes  as  would  be  to 
the  ultimate  advantage  of  the  government  in  the 
encouraging  of  the  fitting  out  of  privateers.  This 
memorial  was  subscribed  by  the  owners  and  agents 
of  twenty-four  private  armed  vessels  fitted  out  of  the 
port  of  New  York  and  was  also  signed  by  a  large 
number  of  merchants  and  other  prominent  citizens. 

Thomas  Farmar  and  Thomas  Jenkins  were  the 
first  signers.  While  the  matter  was  before  the 
committee  of  ways  and  means  in  Congress,  John 
Ferguson  and  John  L.  Lawrence,  both  of  them  ac 
tive  lawyers  in  New  York,  placed  before  them  an 
account  of  the  proceeds  of  the  schooner  Venus  and 
cargo,  captured  by  the  privateer  Teazer,  and  adjudi 
cated  upon  in  the  prize  court  in  New  York  city 
and  a  statement  of  the  cost  of  the  privateers  Gen 
eral  Armstrong  and  Governor  Tompkins,  and  letters 
from  several  privateer  agents  as  to  the  eff  ect  of  the 
existing  laws. 


PETITION  CONGRESS.  385 


The  memorialists  recommended  that  provision  be 
made  by  law: 

For  reducing  duties  on  prizes; 

For  delivering  the  prize  property,  on  condemna 
tion,  to  the  captors  to  be  by  them  disposed  of  and 
distributed  ; 

For  shortening  the  time  necessary  to  procure 
condemnation  ; 

For  limiting  the  fees  of  the  officers  of  the  prize 
courts  to  a  certain  sum;  and 

For  authorizing  prize  owners  or  their  agents  to 
order  prizes  arrived  in  one  port  to  be  taken  to  any 
other  port  at  their  discretion,  at  any  time  before 
the  actual  libeling  of  such  prizes. 

The  petition  concluded  as  follows  : 

6 '  Your  memorialists  are  convinced  that  such  legal 
provisions  aiding  and  encouraging  the  patriotic 
spirit  of  our  citizens,  will  soon  cover  the  ocean 
with  an  active  hostile  armament,  which  no  vigi 
lance  can  elude,  and  from  which  no  force,  however 
great,  can  effectually  protect." 

About  the  same  time  a  number  of  citizens  in 
Baltimore,  Md.,  presented  a  memorial  asking  for  a 
modification  of  duties  on  goods  brought  in  by  pri 
vateers,  and  also  changes  in  the  law  and  practice  as 
to  the  condemnation,  etc. ,  of  prizes. 

The  old  Congress,  which  expired  on  March  3d, 
1813,  took  no  notice  of  the  memorials,  but  the  new 
Congress  made  some  modifications  and  changes  to 
encourage  privateering. 

In  July,  1813,  a  law  was  passed  by  the  latter  giv 
ing  a  bounty  of  $25  to  privateers  for  each  prisoner 
captured,  and  in  August  another  law  was  passed 
granting  pensions,  etc.,  to  those  in  the  privateer 


386  NAVAL  FORCES 


service,  the  same  as  those  in  the  navy.  Another 
law  was  also  passed  reducing  the  duties  on  prize 
goods  to  one-third  less  than  payable  on  goods  im 
ported  in  any  other  manner. 

Although  these  laws  greatly  encouraged  priva 
teering  they  came  too  late  to  help  New  York  city, 
which  was  then  closely  blockaded.  In  September 
following  the  privateer  Governor  Tompkins  was  sold 
at  auction  in  New  York  for  $14:,  500  ;  her  cost  a 
year  before  was  $20,0.00. 

The  number  of  the  enemy's  cruisers  and  priva 
teers  and  the  chances  of  capture  by  them  before  or 
after  a  prize  was  obtained,  as  well  the  blockade  of 
so  much  of  the  American  coast,  all  tended  to  dis 
parage  new  privateering  expeditions  from  New 
York. 

The  enemy  had  sufficient  naval  force  on  the 
American  stations  to  effectually  blockade  the  ports 
on  the  entire  coast  had  they  desired  to  do  so. 

At  the  end  of  September,  1813,  the  British  had 
seventy-one  war  vessels  at  the  Halifax  and  New 
foundland  stations,  besides  those  on  blockade  duty 
on  the  American  coast.  The  number  at  the  West  In 
dies  station  and  on  the  passage  there  were  sixty-eight 
vessels  more.  In  South  America  twenty- eight 
more  vessels.  All  these  w^ere  evidently  intended 
for  service  against  the  United  States  at  some  future 
time.* 


*  The  force  in  guns  of  British  war  vessels  was  commonly 
several  more  than  rated,  and  the  size  and  location  of  guns  on 
vessels  often  varied  according  to  circumstances. 

They  were  generally  mounted  with  the  following  number 
and  size  of  guns  : 

A  "74"— gun  deck,  28  32-pounders;  upper  deck,  28  18 -pounders; 
quarter  deck  and  forecastle,  18  9-pounders. 


OF  THE  ENEMY.  387 


When  the  first  blockade  of  any  American  ports 
was  declared  (ante,  p.  218),  it  only  included  "the 
ports  and  harbors  of  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake  and  of 
the  Kiver  Delaware."  A  large  number  of  li 
censed  American  vessels  that  attempted  to  enter 
them  were  seized  and  confiscated  by  the  enemy. 
While  at  sea  an  American  vessel  having  a  British 
license  to  any  port  riot  blockaded  was  protected 
from  British  privateers  as  well  as  war  vessels.  A 
neutral  vessel  having  a  license  to  a  blockaded  port 
was  not  allowed  to  enter,  but  was  allowed  to  seek  a 
port  not  blockaded. 

One  reason  why  the  blockade  of  American  ports 
was  not  sooner  declared  was,  that  by  the  maritime 
law  a  blockade  abrogated  all  licenses  to  trade;  if 
otherwise,  the  blockade  was  to  be  deemed  broken 
and  neutral  vessels  could  enter  and  depart  without 
molestation.  Hence,  also,  the  reason  why  the  ports 
of  New  England  were  not  declared  blockaded  was 
because  the  enemy  wished  to  use  them  for  licensed 
vessels  as  long  as  needed  to  furnish  such  food  and 
other  supplies  from  America  as  were  of  great  value 

A  "64" — gun  deck,  26  24-pounders  ;  upper  deck,  26  18-pound 
ers ;  quarter  deck  and  forecastle,  12  9-pounders. 

A ''50" — gun  deck,  22  24-pounders;  upper  deck,  22  12-pound- 
ers;  quarter  deck  and  forecastle,  6  6-pounders. 

A  "44" — gun  deck,  20  18-pounders;  upper  deck,  20  9-pound 
ers;  quarterdeck  and  forecastle,  6  6-pounders. 

A  "  32  " — gun  deck,26  12-pounders;  quarter  deck  and  forecastle, 
6  6-pounders. 

A  "  28 — gun  deck,  24  9-pounders  ;  quarter  deck  and  forecastle, 
4  3-pounders. 

A  "20"— gun  deck,  20  9-pounders. 

A  "  14" — gun  deck,  14  6-pounders. 

For  the  number  of  men  in  the  navy  and  each  kind  of  vessel* 
see  ante,  pp.  81,  188.  For  the  size  of  bore  of  cannon,  see  ante* 
p.  75. 


388  BRITISH  LICENSES. 

to  the  British  on  account  of  the  extensive  wars  in 
Europe. 

These  licenses,  as  before  stated  (ante  pp.  83,  120, 
219,  277),  were  granted  to  American  or  neutral  ves 
sels  sailing  to  or  from  a  neutral  port  or  to  or  from 
an  American  port  and  were  good  for  a  return  voy 
age.  The  effect  of  this  was  to  evade  the  non-im 
portation  and  non-exportation  laws  of  Congress,  as 
well  as  the  laws  against  intercourse  with  an 
enemy. 

Such  commerce  evidently  tended  to  frustrate  some 
of  the  principal  objects  of  the  war.  Forged  licenses 
were  also  freely  used.  After  being  before  Congress 
several  months  on  the  29th  day  of  July,  1813,  an 
act  of  Congress  was  passed  forbidding  all  persons 
from  obtaining,  using  or  selling  such  licenses,  on 
penalty  of  fine  or  forfeit.  Any  vessel  found  sailing 
under  such  license  was  to  be  considered  as  sailing 
under  the  British  flag  and  to  be  proceeded  against 
as  lawful  prize. 

Many  attempts  were  made  in  Congress  to  pass  a 
law  prohibiting  an  American  vessel  from  sailing 
under  a  British  license,  but  it  had  been  defeated  by 
a  small  majority  each  time.  It  was  not  until  July 
29,  1813,  that  the  law  was  at  last  passed.  It  was 
after  the  British  had  officially  refused  protection  to 
vessels  having  licenses  to  blockaded  ports. 

Under  this  law  of  Congress  a  neutral  vessel  sail 
ing  under  a  British  license  was  regarded  as  aiding 
and  abetting  the  enemy  and  was  therefore  subject 
to  confiscation. 

Under  this  law  American  privateers  could  seize  a 
licensed  vessel,  whether  an  American  or  neutral  ves 
sel.  Before  this  law  they  could  seize  neither,  be- 


NON-  1NTERCO  URSE  * LA  WS.  389 

cause  their  commissions  only  allowed  them  to  take 
British  vessels. 

The  non-intercourse  law  was  an  act  passed  by 
Congress  in  1809,  three  days  before  Mr.  Jefferson's 
term  expired,  by  which  the  embargo  law  of  1807, 
was  repealed  and  all  commercial  intercourse  (im 
ports  and  exports)  with  Great  Britain  and  France 
and  their  colonies  and  dependencies  were  prohibited. 
The  act  itself  provided  that  if  either  nation  should 
so  revoke  or  modify  her  edicts  so  that  they  would 
cease  to  violate  the  neutral  commerce  of  the  United 
States-  -which  fact  the  President  should  declare  by 
proclamation — the  trarle  should  be  renewed  with 
that  nation. 

On  the  2d  of  November,  1 810,  the  President  by 
proclamation  declared  the  French  decrees  rescinded, 
and  that  trade  would  be  resumed  with  that  nation 
and  her  colonies  and  dependencies. 

This  law  having  expired  it  was  renewed  in  sub 
stance  by  Congress  on  May  1,  1810,  to  continue  un 
til  March  3,  1811. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  1811,  Congress  passed  an  act 
declaring  these  restrictions  to  be  in  force  against 
Great  Britain.  This  was  the  condition  of  the  non- 
intercourse  act  (familiarily  called  non-importation 
law)  when  war  was  declared.  It  was  for  the  re 
peal  of  this  that  the  Federalists'  motto  ' i  Liberty, 
Peace  and  Commerce  "  was  directed. 

There  seemed  to  be  little  difference  between  this 
expression  and  that  of  "Free  Trade  and  Sailors' 
Rights,"  yet,  they  each  represented  the  extremes  of 
the  two  opposite  political  parties  in  the  United 
States  (ante  p.  9.) 

There  was  all  the  time  a  strong  party  in  Congress 


390  NONIMPORTATION  LAWS. 

that  were  in  favor  of  the  repeal  of  the  non-inter 
course  laws  which  existed  against  Great  Britain,  and 
in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1814,  it  looked  as  if 
the  measure  might  be  carried  in  Congress  over  the 
President's  veto.  New  York,  although  a  commer 
cial  port,  early  took  a  more  patriotic  view  of  it  than 
mere  personal  considerations. 

A  large  meeting  of  citizens  was  held  at  Tammany 
Hall  in  February,  1813,  to  remonstrate  against  the 
repeal  of  these  non -importation  laws  against  Great 
Britain,  Abraham  Bloodgood,  chairman,  and  John 
Ferguson,  secretary.  An  address  to  Congress  was 
adopted  and  concluded  with  the  following  resolu 
tions: 

"  Resolved,  That  we  see  in  the  present  law  now 
before  Congress  for  restoring  partially  our  commer 
cial  intercourse  with  Great  Britain  an  abandonment 
of  national  rights  and  a  prostration  of  national 
honor. 

"Resolved,  That  we  conceive,  that  even  by  its 
passage,  the  views  of  its  advocates  will  be  defeated, 
because  the  advantages  that  may  accrue  to  the 
treasury,  will  be  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the 
expenses  that  will  also  arise  from  the  prolongation 
it  must  occasion  of  the  war; 

"Resolved,  That  we  will  cheerfully  pay  all  such 
taxes  as  Congress  in  its  wisdom  may  deem  neces 
sary,  or  the  exigency  of  the  times  may  require,  in 
order  that  the  honor  of  the  nation  may  remain  un 
impaired  and  the  present  war  be  brought  to  a  suc 
cessful  and  speedy  termination." 

The  bill  for  repeal  was  passed  in  the  House  in  Feb 
ruary,  1813,  but  was  defeated  in  the  Senate. 

When  intelligence  reached  England  of  the  law  of 


BLOCKADE   EXTENDED.  391 

Congress  prohibiting  vessels  from  sailing  under  a 
British  license  a  new  policy  was  determined  upon. 
The  circumstances  and  fortunes  of  war  in  Europe 
had  so  far  changed  the  conditions  of  things  since 
the  declaration  of  war,  that  the  British  government 
decided  to  institute  a  more  rigorous  and  extensive 
blockade  of  American  ports. 

The  only  ports  and  harbors  that  had  been  blockad 
ed  as  to  neutral  vessels  were  those  on  the  Chesa 
peake  bay  and  Delaware  river  (ante,  p.  218),  and 
of  New  York,  Charleston,  Port  Royal,  Savannah, 
and  the  Mississippi  river  (ante,  p.  276).  This  pur 
posely  left  a  broad  field  for  shipping,  as  we 
have  already  seen  (ante,  p.  387).  The  coasting 
trade  between  many  points  received  very  little 
check  by  it. 

On  the  16th  of  November,  1813,  Admiral  Warren 
issued  his  proclamation  from  Halifax  declaring  a 
further  blockade,  giving  as  the  reasons  therefor 
that  "finding  that  the  enemy  by  withdrawing  his 
naval  force  from  the  port  of  New  York  and  estab 
lishing  at  the  port  of  New  London  a  naval  station 
to  cover  the  trade  to  and  from  the  port  of  New 
York,  thereby  endeavoring  to  prevent,  as  far  as  is 
in  his  power,  the  execution  of  his  royal  highness' 
said  orders  (of  previous  blockade),  and  also  finding 
that  the  enemy,  through  the^medium  of  inland  car 
riage,  established  a  commercial  intercourse  between 
the  said  blockaded  ports  and  the  rivers,  harbors, 
creeks,  bays,  and  outlets  contiguous  thereto,  where 
by  the  full  effect  of  the  said  blockade  had  been  to  a 
certain  degree  prevented,  in  order  to  put  a  stop  to 
the  same,  I  do,  etc.  (declare  the  said  former  block 
ade  to  continue)  but  that  I  have  also  ordered  all 


392  BLOCKADE  EXTENDED. 

that  part  of  Long  Island  Sound  so-called,  being  the 
sea  coast  lying  within  Montauk  Point,  or  the  east 
ern  point  of  Long  Island  and  the  point  of  land  op 
posite  thereto  commonly  called  Block  Point  (now 
Point  Judith),  situated  on  the  sea  cost  of  the  main 
land  or  continent,  together  with  all  the  ports,  har 
bors,  creeks,  and  entrances  of  the  East  and  North 
Eivers  of  New  York,  as  well  as  all  other  ports, 
creeks,  and  bays  along  the  sea  coast  of  Long  Island 
and  the  State  of  New  York,  and  all  the  ports,  har 
bors,  rivers,  and  creeks  lying  and  being  on  the  sea 
coast  of  the  States  of  East  and  West  Jersey,  Penn 
sylvania,  the  lower  counties  on  the  Delaware,  Mary 
land,  Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
and  all  the  entrances  from  the  sea  into  the  said 
river  of  Mississippi  to  be  strictly  and  vigorously 
blockaded;  and  I  do  hereby,  in  virtue  of  the  power 
and  authority  in  me  vested,  declare  the  whole  of  the 
said  harbors,  bays,  rivers,  creeks  and  the  sea  coasts 
and  the  said  several  States  to  be  in  a  state  of  strict 
and  rigorous  blockade.  And  I  do  further  declare 
that  I  have  stationed  on  the  seacoasts,  bays,  rivers 
and  harbors  of  the  several  States,  a  naval  force 
adequate  and  sufficient  to  enforce  and  maintain  the 
blockade  thereof  in  the  most  strict  and  vigorous 


manner. " 


This  proclamation  of  blockade  was  brought  from 
Halifax  by  Com.  Hardy  and  the  Ramillies,  and  he 
soon  again  took  command  of  the  enemy's  blockad 
ing  squadron  in  this  vicinity,  in  place  of  Capt. 
Oliver  and  the  Valiant,  which  sailed  for  Halifax  for 
repairs  in  the  early  part  of  December. 

The  Spanish  consul  at  New  York  city  received  the 
following  official  notice  of  this  blockade  : 


EFFECT  OF  BLOCKADE.  393 

"  By  COMMAND  OF  THE  ADMIRAL, 

"  GEO.  EEDMOND  HULERT,    SEC'Y. 
"  H.  M.  SHIP  Valiant  OFF  NEW  LONDON. 

".Dec.  2,  1813. 

"  Sir  :  Having  received  orders  from  Sir  John 
Borlasse  Warren,  commarider-in-chief  of  his  Britan 
nic  majesty's  naval  forces  in  North  America  to  de 
clare  Long  Island  Sound  in  a  state  of  rigorous 
blockade  and  to  enforce  the  same,  I  beg  leave  to 
inform  you  of  this  measure,  that  after  the  6th  of 
December  no  vessels  whatever  will  be  permitted  to 
sail  from  any  port  in  Long  Island  Sound.  I  beg  you 
will  be  pleased  to  communicate  this  intelligence  to 
the  neutral  consuls  in  your  district. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient 
servant, 

"ROBERT  DUDLEY  OLIVER, 

"  Capt.  and  senior  officer  in  Long  Island  Sound. 

"  To  DON  THOMAS  STOUGHTON, 

"Spanish   consul  at  New  York." 

In  order  to  maintain  this  blockade  the  enemy  at 
once  virtually  took  possession  of  all  the  ports,  bays, 
etc.,  in  and  about  the  eastern  and  northern  portions 
of  Long  Island,  but  the  inhabitants  were  not  mo 
lested  in  peaceful  pursuits. 

When  Com.  Hardy  returned  from  Halifax  he 
brought  back  Joshua  Penney,  and  allowed  him  to 
return  to  his  home  at  East  Hampton,  Long  Island. 
(See  ante,  p.  285). 

The  blockade  of  Long  Island  Sound  in 
November,  1813,  put  a  stop  to  privateers  from  New 
York  city.  Up  to  this  time  she  had  sent  out  more 
privateers  than  had  any  other  port.  More  than  one 
hundred  vessels  of  this  kind  had  been  fitted  out  at 


394  BLOCKADED  PORTS. 

the  port  of  New  York,  carrying  many  guns 
and  nearly  five  thousand  armed  men.  Many 
of  them  continued  in  service  until  the  peace  of 
1815. 

The  Appendix  to  Volume  II.  will  contain  a  full 
statement  relating  to  privateers. 

The  first  order  for  blockade  of  any  of  the  ports  in 
the  United  States  as  to  the  vessels  of  a  neutral  nation, 
was  that  all  i '  the  ports  and  harbors  of  the  Bay  of 
Chesapeake  and  of  the  River  Delaware  "  be  block 
aded  according  to  the  law  of  nations.  This  was 
generally  thought  to  mean  all  the  ports  in  Dela 
ware  bay  and  river,  for  such  it  was  in  fact.  The 
only  ports  of  entry  for  foreign  vessels  on  Delaware 
bay  and  river  at  that  time  were  Wilmington,  Del. , 
Philadelphia  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Burlington  and 
Bridgeton  in  New  Jersey.  These  were  all  re 
garded  as  blockaded.  The  two  ports  of  Great  Egg 
Harbor  and  Little  Egg  Harbor  on  the  coast  of 
New  Jersey  were  not  included.  The  four  ports 
in  New  Jersey  and  Perth  Amboy  were  all  ports  of 
entry  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 

The  district  of  Perth  Amboy  comprised  the  ports 
of  New  Brunswick,  Middletown  Point,  and  Eliza- 
bethport  as  ports  of  delivery  only.  All  that  part  of 
New  Jersey  north  and  east  of  Elizabethtown  and 
Staten  Island  was  annexed  to  the  New  York  city  dis 
trict  with  an  assistant  collector  with  power  to  enter 
and  clear  vessels  same  as  the  collector  of  New  York. 
This  comprised  Newark  and  Jersey  (now  Jersey  City) 
Hoboken,  etc. 

New  York  city  district  comprised  the  ports  of 
New  Windsor,  Newburgh,  Poughkeepsie,  Esopus, 
Kinderhook  and  Albany,  on  the  Hudson  river, 


BLOCKADED  PORTS.  395 

and  were  ports  of  delivery  only.  New  York  city 
was  the  only  port  of  entry  for  that  district. 

The  blockading  squadron  first  appeared  in  Chesa 
peake  bay  on  March  8,  1813,  and  in  Delaware  bay  a 
few  days  afterwards  (ante  p.  218). 

Although  the  ports  and  harbors  in  the  Chesa 
peake  bay  and  Delaware  river  were  the  only  ports 
officially  blockaded  previous  to  the  order  dated  May 
26,  1813  (ante  p.  274),  many  other  ports  and  places 
were  undoubtedly  thought  to  be  so  by  foreign  ves 
sels  that  were  in  some  American  ports,  and  conse 
quently  did  not  attempt  to  take  a  cargo  abroad  for 
a  foreign  port.  The  presence  of  a  large  naval  force 
of  British  vessels  in  those  bays  in  the  early  part 
of  March,  1813  (ante  pp.  218,  219,  303),  and  also 
about  Sandy  Hook,  led  to  this  conclusion. 

According  to  the  law  of  nations  a  neutral  ves 
sel  was  free  to  enter  or  depart  from  any  other 
ports  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey  until  a  formal 
proclamation  and  notice  of  the  blockade  thereof. 
Had  a  neutral  vessel  attempted  to  pass  Sandy 
Hook  with  authentic  papers  showing  that  she 
was  bound  to  any  port  in  New  Jersey  on  the 
Raritan  bay,*  the  enemy  would  have  been  bound 
to  let  her  pass  at  Sandy  Hook  and  proceed  to  her 
port  of  destination. 

At  that  time  the  State  of  New  York  had  only 
three  ports  of  entry  for  foreign  vessels  ;  they  were 
Sag  Harbor,  New  York  city,  and  Hudson  on  the 
Hudson  river.  They  were  all  under  the  customs 
district  located  at  New  York  city. 

*  Perth  Amboy  was  then  the  regular  port  of  entry  for  foreign 
vessels  in  Raritan  bay. 


396  NAPOLEON  LENDS    US 

The  district  of  Sag  Harbor  included  all  the  bays, 
harbors,  rivers,  and  shores  with  in  the  two  points  of 
land  called  Oyster  Pond  Point,  and  Montauk  Point. 
I  was  the  only  port  of  entry  and  delivery  within  that 
district . 

Although  as  a  strict  matter  of  right  a  neutral  ves 
sel  bound  for  the  city  of  Hudson  on  Hudson  river, 
might  be  entitled  to  pass  Sandy  Hook  and  the 
Narrows  and  proceed  to  terminate  her  voyage  at 
Hudson  city,  it  was  not  at  all  probable  that  the 
enemy's  vessels  at  Sandy  Hook  would  have  allowed 
it.  The  author  is  not  aware  of  any  attempt  of  a 
neutral  vessel  to  pass  Sandy  Hook  for  either  the 
ports  of  Perth  Amboy  and  Karitan  bay  or  to  pro 
ceed  to  the  city  of  Hudson  on  Hudson  river. 

As  to  American  vessels  and  coasters  they  were 
subject  to  capture  by  the  enemy  on  the  high  seas  or 
on  the  American  coasts  or  in  American  waters  or 
ports  without  any  notice  of  blockade,  but  merely 
by  virtue  of  the  existence  of  war  between  the  two 
nations. 

American  vessels  were  also  subject  to  British 
capture  in  French  waters  and  ports,  and  French 
vessels  were  subject  to  British  capture  in  all  the 
places  that  American  vessels  were.  The  existence 
of  a  war  between  Great  Britain  and  the  two  na 
tions,  the  United  States  and  France,  were  regarded 
by  Great  Britain  as  if  they  were  allied  enemies 
(see  ante,  pp.  126,  383). 

At  the  meeting  of  the  British  Parliament  in  Novem 
ber,  1813,  on  the  motion  for  addresses  in  answer  to 
the  Prince  Regent  in  the  House  of  Lords,  Lord  Comp- 
ton  said  :  "  He  might  be  told  that  America  was  not 
the  ally  of  France.  He  knew  that  she  had  not  signed 


A  HELPING  HAND.  397 

and  sealed  a  formal  treaty  of  alliance  with  that  coun 
try;  but  she  had  formed  that  species  of  alliance  which 
was  fully  an  equivalent  by  giving  her  all  the  assist 
ance  of  her  power  in  the  contest  now  waging.""' 

By  the  laws  of  nations  the  prize  courts  of  an  ally 
could  not  adjudicate  upon  a  capture.  Each  nation 
must  provide  a  court  for  the  adjudication  of  its  own 
captures,  and  the  court  may  be  held  in  the  country  of 
the  ally,  but  not  in  a  neutral  country.  Consular 
courts  are  allowed  to  act  in  such  matters,  and  are 
regulated  by  their  nation. 

Neither  can  vessels  in  a  neutral  port  or  waters  be 
attacked  or  lawfully  captured  by  an  enemy.  A 
neutral  could  allow  the  captures  of  the  belligerents 
to  be  brought  into  its  ports  and  be  sold,  but  if  only 
one  belligerent  was  allowed  to  do  so  the  nation  per 
mitting  it  could  scarcely  be  called  neutral. 

Many  foreign  nations  allowed  American  and 
British  captures  to  be  brought  into  its  ports  during 
the  war  of  1812-15,  and  there  were  others  that  would 
not  allow  either  of  the  belligerents  to  do  so. 
France  allowed  the  American  consul,  Mr.  Wm. 
Lee,  to  hold  a  prize  court  at  Bordeaux  and  all  her 
ports  were  open  to  American  captures.  I  am  not 
aware  that  any  other  nation  allowed  it,  although 

*  Early  in  May,  1813,  Napoleon  decreed  that  "The  consuls  of 
the  United  States  shall  have  in  France,  in  what  relates  to  prizes, 
the  same  jurisdiction  which  the  French  consuls  exercise  in  the 
countries  where  they  are  the  most  favored  (the  allies  of  France). 
The  American  vessels  and  privateers  shall  be  allowed  to  take 
each  fifty  muskets,  fifty  pistols  and  fifty  swords,  and  the  number 
of  guns,  from  three  to  twenty-four  pounders,  which  shall  be 
necessary  when  fitting  out  in  French  ports." 

It  was  of  great  advantage  to  both  France  and  America  to  have 
privateers  fitted  out  in  France  and  yet  sail  under  the  American 
flag,  for  then  no  nation  but  Gre^t  Britain  could  seize  them,  and 
they  were  on  the  ground  ready  for  action  against  British  ships. 


398  BRITISH  PRIZE  COURTS. 

many  American  captures  were  taken  into  the  ports 
of  Norway,  Peru,  Spain,  Florida  (then  belonging 
to  Spain),  Frankfort,  and  some  others.  Portugal 
claimed  to  be  neutral  and  would  not  allow  captures 
brought  into  her  ports,  believing  that  probably  there 
never  would  any  opportunity  for  Great  Britain  to 
ask  that  her  captures  be  allowed  there.  Portugal 
refused  clearances  to  blockaded  American  ports.  The 
privileges  of  the  use  of  the  ports  of  Norway  for  re 
fuge  (and  I  presume  sa]e  of  captures)  was  of  much 
more  benefit  to  America  than  to  Great  Britain.* 

All  captures  made  by  the  blockading  squadron 
were  taken  to  Bermuda  where  there  was  a  British 
Prize  court  in  session  to  adjudicate  upon  captures 
and  the  disposition  of  prizes.  In  1813  his  honor, 
Peter  Edwards,  Esq.,  was  the  judge  surrogate  hold 
ing  court  there. 

When  captured  vessels  were  adjudicated  upon  by 
the  prize  court,  if  they  and  their  cargo  were  con 
demned  as  lawful  prizes,  the  non-combatants  on 
board  of  them  were  allowed  all  their  personal  prop 
erty  and  were  set  at  liberty  and  left  to  make  their 
way  to  another  place  the  best  they  could. 

A  newspaper  published  there,  called  the  Royal 
Gazette,  contained  full  reports  of  the  prize  court 
proceedings. 

The  coasting  trade  of  the  United  States  was  car 
ried  on  entirely  by  American  vessels. 

*  The  situation  of  nations  were  very  peculiar  in  1812  and  1813. 
The  British  allies  in  1813  were  Sweden,  Prussia,  Austria,  Portu 
gal,  Spain,  Sicily  and  Russia.  Great  Britain  was  at  war  with  the 
United  States,  Denmark,  Saxony,  Bavaria,  Westphalia,  France 
and  Naples.  It  thus  became  a  problem  in  international  law  to 
decide  who  besides  Great  Britain  were  to  be  regarded  as  our 
enemies. 


AMEEICAN  SHIPPING  LAWS.  399 

In  order  to  obtain  a  license  for  carrying  on  the 
coasting  trade  or  fisheries  the  owner  or  ship's  hus 
band  and  master  was  required  to  give  security  to 
the  United  States  that  the  vessel  would  not  be 
employed  in  any  trade  whereby  the  revenue  of  the 
United  States  may  be  defrauded.  The  master  must 
make  oath  that  he  is  a  citizen  and  that  the  license 
would  not  be  used  for  any  other  vessel  or  any  other 
employment,  and  if  the  vessel  be  less  than  twenty 
tons  burden,  that  she  is  wholly  the  property  of 
citizens  of  the  United  States.  The  collector  for  the 
district  was  thereupon  required  to  grant  a  license  to 
carry  on  the  coasting  trade  or  fishery.  A  vessel 
engaged  in  such  a  trade  or  business  without  being 
enrolled  and  licensed  or  licensed  only,  if  under 
twenty  tons  as  the  case  may  be  (all  above  twenty 
tons  were  enrolled  and  licensed),  must  pay  alien 
duties,  if  in  ballast  or  ]aden  with  goods  the  growth 
or  manufacture  of  the  United  States.  If  laden 
with  any  articles  of  foreign  growth  or  manufacture, 
or  distilled  spirits,  it  would  be  forfeited.  If  any  ves 
sel  enrolled  or  licensed  proceed  on  a  foreign  voyage 
without  first  surrendering  up  her  enrollment  and 
license  and  being  duly  registered,  she  would,  with 
her  cargo  imported  into  the  United  States,  be  sub 
ject  to  forfeiture. 

' i  Vessels  enrolled  and  licensed  or  licensed  only,  if 
under  twenty  tons,  were  entitled  to  all  the  privi 
leges  of  vessels  employed  in  the  coasting  trade  or 
fisheries,  but  in  order  to  engage  in  any  foreign  voy 
age  or  trade  a  vessel  must  be  registered  for  that 
purpose,"  so  as  to  be  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  an 
American  vessel  when  she  arrives  in  a  port. 

A  vessel  duly  owned  by  citizens  of  the  United 


400  AMERICAN  SHIPPING  LAWS. 

States  and  commanded  by  a  native  or  naturalized 
citizen,  although  all  the  crew  were  foreigners  and 
the  vessel  foreign  built,  was  entitled  to  be  registered 
or  enrolled  or  licensed  as  an  American  vessel. 

A  vessel  built  in  the  United  States  after  Aug.  15, 
1789,  belonging  in  whole  or  in  part  to  a  foreigner  if 
commanded  by  a  citizen  (native  or  naturalized)  of 
the  United  States,  although  all  the  crew  be  foreign 
ers,  upon  proof  of  the  fact  of  registry  in  the  office 
of  the  collector  of  the  district  in  which  the  ship  was 
built,  was  entitled  to  be  regarded  as  an  American 
vessel.  If  such  vessel  was  built  by  imported  work 
men  and  imported  material,  it  did  not  affect  the 
right  of  registry. 

A  foreign  vessel  was  taxed  one  dollar  and  a  half 
per  ton  and  an  additional  duty  of  ten  per  cent 
more  on  the  duties  required  than  on  goods  im 
ported  in  an  American  vessel. 

It  will  be  observed  that  a  vessel  of  any  size,  how 
ever  large  or  small,  could  engage  in  the  coasting 
trade  of  the  United  States.* 

*  The  enrolled  tonnage  of  vessels  of  more  than  twenty  tons 
(fractions  omitted)  employed  in  the  coasting-  trade  belonging  to 
the  following  states  were  in 

1811          1812          1813          1814          1815 

New  York 83,536      89,832      90,450      92,052      100,960 

New  Jersey 23,927      24,651       22,628      23,175        26,067 

Pennsylvania 14,255       15,544       18,071       18,007        19,875 

Connecticut 20,529      21,302      23,718      22,254        23,205 

Delaware 681,964        7,133        7,342        7,419          7,543 

The  licensed  vessels  under  twenty  tons  (fractions  omitted)  em 
ployed  in  the  coasting  trade  belonging  to  the  following  states 
were  in  1811  1812  1813  1814  1815 

New  York 4,215        4,378          4,818        5,183          5,398 

New   Jersey 2,599        2,459         2,586        2,666          2,668 

Pennsylvania 1,749        1,956          2,176        2,399          2,484 

Connecticut 1,349        1,409         1,661        1,713          1,675 

Delaware 645  641  661  694  742 

The  licensed  coasting  trade  and  also  registered  vessels  for  the 


SMUGGLING  GOODS.  401 

Much  smuggling  was  carried  on  before  any 
blockade  but  after  that  the  greater  number  of  the 
enemy's  war  vessels  near  the  vicinity  of  the  coast 
greatly  enhanced  this  kind  of  business.  The  en 
emy's  large  vessels  had  tenders  to  obtain  necessary 
supplies,  from  land  and  these  often  had  imported 
merchandise  which  were  given  in  exchange  for 
provisions. 

Neutral  vessels  frequently  acted  as  a  medium 
for  the  exchange  when  necessary. 

The  laws  allowed  imported  goods,  wares,  and 
merchandise  to  be  transported  by  land  from  certain 
ports  to  other  ports  and  places  designated  by 
law,  where  they  were  entitled  to  the  same  draw 
backs  and  privileges  as  if  carried  coastwise  by 
water.  This  also  afforded  additional  facilities  for 
smuggling. 

A  great  supply  of  smuggled  goods  reached  New 
York  through  Delaware  bay  and  the  coast  of  New 

following  named  ports  during  the  year  1814  by  official   returns 

appears  as  follows  : 

Licensed.  Registered. 

New  York  city,  N.  Y.  $87,763  60  $150,450  24 

Hudson,                    "  2,068  44  892  50 

Sag  Harbor,  1,97535  80755 

Perth  Amboy,    N.  J.  6,999  75  13,474  76 

Great  Egg  Harbor,  "  79790  23464 

Little  Egg        "        "  1,433  14  none 

Burlington,               ' '  1,263  73  none 

Bridgeton,                  "  12,500  73  133  69 

Philadelphia,  Penn.  17,879  08  64,882  64 

New  London,  Conn.  6,31785  5,50010 

Middletown,         "  6,372  37  3,753  82 

New  Haven,         "  4,684  57  5,636  82 

Fairneld                "  4,87985  11760 

Wilmington,  Del.  7,41911  65461 

Much  of  the  registered  tonnage  was  only  temporary  because 
those  ports  were  more  available.  The  shipping  returns  for 
those  ports  during  the  years  1812  and  1813  is  not  accessible,  but 
it  was  about  the  same  as  in  1814. 


402  LAND   TRANSPORTATION 

Jersey.  Much  of  the  imported  goods  were  taken 
up  Delaware  river  by  Durham  boats  as  far  as 
Lamberton  (now  South  Trenton)  and  there  unload 
ed  and  taken  by  teams  to  Earitan  river  or  some  of 
its  tributaries  by  which  it  could  be  easily  taken  by 
water  to  New  York  and  distributed  to  the  places 
where  the  demand  was  the  greatest. 

There  was  a  continual  supply  of  food  and  pro 
ductions  such  as  the  enemy  needed  while  here  or 
allowed  to  be  taken  abroad  by  neutral  vessels  nom 
inally  bound  to  some  port  of  a  neutral  nation,  so 
far  as  the  United  States  were  concerned,  but  were 
in  some  instances  the  allies  of  Great  Britain  against 
the  French.  This  was  extensively  carried  on  in  all 
parts  of  the  United  States  and  on  its  borders,  but 
we  will  now  only  mention  New  Jersey  in  particular. 
At  that  time  her  agricultural  productions  were  very 
great,  as  were  also  the  facilities  for  easy  conveyance 
of  them  to  sea  ports.  All  her  numerous  rivers  and 
streams  were  filled  with  Durham  boats  which  took 
down  to  the  tide  waters  of  her  many  bays  and  com 
modious  ports  loads  of  produce.  All  her  roads 
and, turnpikes  lead  to  the  water  courses. 

The  following  item  appeared  in  the  True  Ameri 
can  on  the  15th  November,  1813  : 

TRENTON,  N.  J.,Nov.  15,  1813. 

"  It  is  calculated  that  as  many  as  fifteen  hun 
dred  teams  were  last  week  employed  in  the  trans 
portation  business  between  the  Delaware  and 
Karitan  rivers,  many  of  them  three,  four  and  five 
horse  teams.  For  several  days  a  dollar  and  a  half 
was  given  for  each  barrel  of  flour  taken  from  Lam- 


NEW  JERSEY.  403 


berton  to  Brunswick.  The  amount  of  money 
brought  into  and  distributed  through  the  state  by 
the  transportation  of  produce  and  merchandise 
through  it  is  almost  incalculable.  However  other 
states  may  suffer  in  their  pecuniary  interests  by  the 
war,  New  Jersey  cannot  complain. 

'  '  We  are  informed  that  arrangements  are  making 
for  transportation  from  Kingston  to  Brunswick 
by  water  except  at  a  few  carrying  places.  A  canal 
between  the  Delaware  and  Earitan  rivers  would 
now  be  of  great  importance." 

There  was  a  fine  turnpike  road  of  the  best  quality 
from  Lamberton  to  Brunswick,  the  latter  be 
ing  twenty-six  miles  from  Trenton  and  twenty- 
five  miles  from  New  York.  Kingston,  situated 
on  the  Millstone  river,  which  was  then  a  rapid 
stream  of  more  volume  than  at  the  present  day, 
was  sixteen  miles  to  Raritan  river.  Kingston  was 
half  way  between  New  York  and  Philadelphia  by 
the  great  turnpike,  and  thirteen  miles  from  Bruns 
wick  on  the  Raritan,  and  thirteen  miles  from  Tren 
ton.  The  Delaware  and  Raritan  canal  now  (1889) 
follows  the  valley  of  the  Millstone  river  from 
Kingston  to  the  Raritan  river. 

The  blockade  of  the  entire  coast  of  New  Jersey 
by  the  order  of  Nov.  16th  was  not  attempted  to  be 
strict  for  some  weeks  afterwards,  but  was  merely 
formal,  and  much  smuggling  and  trading  with  the 
enemy  continued. 

The  blockade  of  the  Sound  was  not  yet  very  strict. 
On  the  13th  of  December  there  were  nineteen 
coasters  arrived  in  the  port  of  New  York  —  all  were 
down  the  Sound.  This  was  an  unusually  large 


404  BLOCKADE  UNFORCED. 

number,  that  had  awaited  a  favorable  opportunity 
to  evade  the  enemy. 

On  December  17th  the  enemy's  flag  ship  Eomillies 
with  Com.  Hardy  as  commander  of  the  blockading 
squadron,  anchored  off  New  London  and  the  block 
ade  began  to  be  more  strictly  enforced. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Meeting  of  Congress — The  President's  Message  Unsatisfactory — 
Secret  Message  to  Cong'ress — Circumstances  Calling  for  Im 
mediate  Legislation — Remedies  Suggested — Embargo  Laws 
Enacted — Effect  on  Neutral  Vessels — Rigid  Rules  for  Internal 
Transportation — Rffectupon  New  York  City — The  Port  Closed 
— Restricted  Means  of  Obtaining  Supplies. 

J^|;  HE  condition  of  the  country  was  such 
that  all  looked  anxiously  to  the  meet 
ing  of  Congress  in  December. 

A  notable  fact  relating  to  the  open 
ing  of  Congress  on  the  6th  of  Decem 
ber,  was  that  the  President's  message 
was  conveyed  to  New  York  city  from 
Washington  in  twenty -four  hours  at  the  expense 
and  enterprise  of  two  of  the  New  York  daily  news 
papers. 

This  was  more  of  a  feat  than  appears  now  at 
first  glance.  The  distance  was  240  miles  (ante,  p. 
34),  so  the  average  distance  traveled  was  ten  miles 
per  hour.  The  messengers  were  on  horseback  and 
were  changed  about  every  ten  miles. 

It  was  read  in  both  houses  on  the  7th  at  12  o'clock. 
As  soon  as  the  reading  was  concluded  a  copy  of  it 
was  taken  by  the  private  messenger.  When 
it  arrived  in  New  York  the  next  day  it  was  put 


406  SECRET  MESSAGE 


in  type  by  the  type  setters  of  the  two  newspapers, 
one  being  an  evening  and  the  other  a  morning 
paper.  It  was  first  used  in  the  morning  paper  of 
the  9th.* 

The  message  was  not  thought  satisfactory  to  any 
party  or  to  the  people.  It  was  felt  that  there  was 
something  more  yet  to  come  soon,  but  what  it  was 
the  public  was  obliged  to  wait  a  few  weeks  to 
ascertain. 

On  the  Oth  of  December  the  president  sent  a  secret 
message  to  congress  stating  that  "the  tendency  of 
the  commercial  and  navigation  laws  to  favor  the 
enemy  and  prolong  the  war  was  more  and  more 
developed  by  experience.  That  supplies  of  the 
most  essential  kind  found  their  way  not  only  to 
British  posts  and  armies  at  a  distance,  but  their 
armies  in  our  neighborhood,  with  which  our  own 
are  contending,  derived  from  our  ports  and  outlets 
a  subsistence  obtainable  with  difficulty,  if  at  all, 
from  other  sources.  That  even  the  fleets  and 
troops  investing  our  coasts  and  waters  are  by  like 
supplies  accommodated  and  encouraged  in  their 
predatory  and  incursive  warfare.  That  abuses  hav 
ing  a  like  tendency  were  taking  place  in  our  import 
trade.  British  fabrics  and  products  find  their  way 
into  our  ports  under  the  name,  and  from  the  ports 


*  At  that  time  there  were  six  daily  papers  published  in  New 
York  city.  Of  the  three  morning1  papers  one  was  Federal,  one 
Democrat  and  one  was  neutral.  Two  of  the  evening-  papers  were 
Federal  and  one  was  Democrat.  They  were  all  the  same  size, 
being  four  pages  about  the  size  of  a  page  of  the  New  York  Her 
ald  at  the  present  writing  (1889). 

There  were  several  semi-weekly  papers,  made  up  from  the 
dailies,  for  the  country,  and  many  weekly  papers  and  several 
semi-monthly  and  monthly  magazines  and  publications,,  in  the 
city  similar  in  character  to  those  of  the  present  day.  No  Sun 
day  papers  were  issued. 


TO   CONOR E '88.  407 


of  other  countries,  and  often  in  British  vessels  dis 
guised  as  neutrals  by  false  colors  and  papers.  That 
illegal  importations  are  openly  made  with  advan 
tage  to  the  violators  of  the  law,  produced  by  under 
valuations  or  other  circumstances  involved  in  a 
course  of  the  judicial  proceedings  against  them. 
That  it  is  found  that  the  practice  of  ransoming  is  a 
cover  for  collusive  captures  and  a  channel  for  intel 
ligence,  advantageous  to  the  enemy." 

The  message  recommended  an  embargo  on 
exports  and  that  ' '  all  articles  known  to  be  derived 
either  riot  at  all  or  in  an  immaterial  degree  only 
from  the  productions  of  any  other  country  than 
Great  Britain,  and  particularly  the  extensive  arti 
cles  made  of  wool  and  cotton  materials,  and  ardent 
spirits  made  from  the  cane  (rum),  be  expressly  and 
absolutely  prohibited  from  whatever  port  or  place, 
or  in  whatever  vessels  the  same  may  be  brought 
into  the  United  States,  and  that  all  violations  of 
the  non-importation  act  be  subject  to  adequate 
penalties  ;  and  that  all  persons  concerned  in  collusive 
captures  by  the  enemy,  or  in  ransoming  vessels  or 
their  cargoes  from  the  enemy  be  subjected  to  ade 
quate  penalties,  and  that  more  stringent  proofs  of 
the  neutral  and  national  character  of  foreign  vessels 
be  required." 

The  message  was  referred  the  same  day  to  the 
committee  on  foreign  relations,  and  on  the  next  day 
a  bill  was  reported  to  the  house  by  Mr.  Grundy, 
the  chairman,  laying  an  embargo,  etc.  The 
bill  was  read  and  committed  to  a  committee  of  the 
whole. 

The  message  and  report  was  considered  with 
closed  doors.  Tho  opposition,  in  congress  called  for 


408  TRADING   WITH  THE  ENEMTf. 

the  evidence  of  the  facts  upon  which  the  president 
bysed  his"  message.  This  resolution  was  voted 
down.  The  evidence  could  be  found  in  the  reports 
of  the  newspapers  and  by  the  most  overwhelming 
evidence  that  was  long  publicly  known  and  daily 
discussed. 

The  entire  New  England  coast  north  from  Mon- 
tauk  Point  and  Block  Island  was  still  exempt  from 
blockade,  ancl  coasters  and  neutrals  were  still  carry 
ing  on  a  lively  trade  to  and  from  the  ports  thus 
situated. 

The  military  order  of  August  5,  1813,  prohibiting 
communications  with  the  enemy  (ante,  p.  295)  was 
easily  evaded,  because  of  the  extensive  lines 
and  numerous  points  that  could  not  be  closely 
guarded. 

Many  vessels,  that  in  fact  were  English  or  con 
trolled  by  the  enemy,  sailed  under  neutral  flags.  It 
was  said  that  those  that  sailed  under  the  Swedish 
and  Spanish  flags  were  almost  exclusively  English 
vessels. 

Prom  the  1st  to  the  24th  of  December  forty- 
four  vessels  cleared  and  sailed  from  Boston  for 
foreign  ports.  Only  five  of  this  number  were 
American. 

In  the  month  of  September,  said  Niles1  Register, 
in  the  course  of  one  day  17,000  barrels  of  flour 
arrived  at  Halifax  from  the  United  States.  It  was 
transported  from  the  grain-growing  States  by  inter 
nal  conveyances  to  eastern  ports  not  blockaded, 
from  whence,  by  Swedish  flags  and  other  means,  it 
was  taken  direct  to  the  enemy.  A  gentleman 
directly  from  Halifax  said  that  when  he  left  "  there 
were  upwards  of  two  hundred  Americans  in  the 


EMBARGO  LAW  ENACTED.  409 

city  in  open  and  direct  communication  with  the 
British,  smuggling  backwards  and  forwards.  Will 
congress  hesitate  to  deny  the  exportation  of  provi 
sions  ?  Had  this  been  done  at  the  last  session  t  the 
state  of  things  would  have  been  materially  differ 
ent." 

The  bill  passed  the  house  on  the  llth  (Saturday). 
It  was  conveyed  to  the  senate  on  Monday  the  13th, 
and  after  much  discussion  the  bill  was  amended  and 
passed  by  the  senate  on  the  16th  and  sent  to  the 
house,  where  it  was  immediately  passed  and 
became  a  law  on  the  17th  of  December. 

The  law  took  effect  from  the  time  of  its  passage, 
and  was  to  be  in  force  until  January  1st,  1815,  un 
less  a  treaty  of  peace  was  sooner  concluded,  in 
which  event,  or  in  any  other  event  that  shall,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  president,  render  the  termination  of 
the  embargo  compatible  with  the  public  interest, 
he  was  authorized  to  declare  by  proclamation  that 
the  law  cease  and  be  of  no  effect. 

Mr.  Lefferts,  from  Brooklyn,  and  Dr.  Sage,  from 
Sag  Harbor,  voted  for  the  embargo  law  in  the  house. 
Dr.  Post  voted  against  it;  Judge  Benson  had  re 
signed.  Both  senators  from  New  York  State  voted 
against  it  (see  ante,  p.  223). 

The  injunction  of  secrecy  was  not  removed  by 
congress  until  Monday,  December  20th,  at  2  P.M. 
As  soon  as  it  became  a  law  certified  copies  of  it 
were  forwarded  by  special  messengers  to  the  col 
lector  of  each  district  in  the  United  States.  There 
were  vague  rumors  of  its  provisions  for  several 
days.  A  copy  of  the  law  for  publication  did  not 
arrive  in  New  York  city  until  December  24th,  in 
time  to  be  in  one  of  the  evening  papers  on  that  day. 


410         EFFECT  OF  THE  EMBARGO 

The  next  day  was  Christmas  (Saturday),  and  as 
there  were  no  Sunday  papers  issued  it  did  not  ap 
pear  in  any  of  the  morning  papers  until  December 
27th. 

The  law  laid  an  embargo  on  all  ships  and  vessels 
cleared  or  not  cleared  in  the  ports  and  places  within 
the  United  States,  and  that  no  clearance  be  fur 
nished  to  any  ship  or  vessel,  except  vessels  in  ballast 
with  their  necessary  sea  stores.  Foreign  ships  were 
also  allowed  to  take  goods,  wares,  and  merchandise 
other  than  provisions,  military  and  naval  stores. 
But  no  American  citizen  was  allowed  to  be  taken  on 
board  without  a  passport  therefor  furnished  under 
the  direction  and  authority  of  the  president.  The 
officers  and  crews  of  such  foreign  vessels  must  con 
sist  wholly  of  such  foreigners  as  did  belong  to  na 
tions  at  amity  with  the  United  States  at  the  time 
of  the  arrival,  of  said  ships  or  vessels  in  the  United 
States. 

By  the  terms  of  this  embargo  law  many  vessels 
that  claimed  to  belong  to  a  neutral  nation  could  not 
leave  an  American  port  because  her  crew  was  not 
all  foreigners  of  some  neutral  nation,  and  it  was 
impossible  to  supply  seamen  to  enable  her  to  de 
part.  Again,  she  was  not  allowed  to  take  i '  provis 
ions  or  military  or  naval  stores"  (excepting  neces 
sary  sea  stores),  and  they  did  not  want  anything  else 
abroad,  and  the  United  States  had  nothing  else  to 
part  with. 

All  the  nations  in  Europe  (excepting  England) 
then  had  laws  similar  to  those  of  the  United  States 
as  to  the  qualifications  requisite  to  become  a 
national  vessel,  to  wit,  no  part  of  the  crew- 
were  required  to  be  citizens  of  the  nation 


ON  FOREIGN   VESSELS. 


whose  flag  the  vessel  was  entitled  to  sail  under 
(ante  p.  400). 

Thus  the  entire  crew  could  be  British  subjects 
and  the  vessel,  by  being  nominally  commanded 
and  owned  by  the  subjects  of  any  other  nation,  to 
wit  ;  Spain,  Portugal,  Sweden,  etc.,  could  carry  the 
neutral  flag  of  that  nation. 

The  vessel  could  be  built  in  such  nation  by  for 
eign  workmen  and  owned  entirely  by  foreigners,  if 
commanded  by  a  citizen  of  the  former  nation  it  was 
entitled  to  carry  the  flag  of  that  nation. 

England  has  had  a  law  since  the  time  of  Crom 
well  requiring  that  a  large  number  (a,t  least  three- 
fourths)  of  the  crew  of  her  vessels  be  citizens  of 
Great  Britain,  in  addition  to  the  other  requisites  of 
building  and  ownership  of  the  vessel.  Great  Brit 
ain  had  also  required  by  law  the  number  of  the  na 
tive  crew  that  a  foreign  vessel  should  carry  in  order 
to  be  deemed  a  vessel  of  the  latter  nation. 

On  the  3d  March,  1813,  Congress  passed  a  law 
providing  that  after  the  termination  of  the  war 
with  Great  Britain,  it  shall  not  be  lawful  to  em 
ploy  on  board  any  of  the  public  or  private  vessels  of 
the  United  States  any  person  except  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States  or  person  of  color,  native  of  the 
United  States.  But  vessels  in  a  foreign  port 
could  supply  any  deficiency  of  seamen  by  the 
employment  of  foreigners.  The  act  also  pro 
hibited  the^  employment,  as  seamen,  of  the  sub 
jects  or  citizens  of  any  foreign  nation  which  shall 
prohibit  the  employment  of  citizens  of  the  United 
States. 

The  United  States  had  up  to  that  time  availed 
themselves  of  the  lax  mode  of  qualification,  to 


412  EFFECI    OF  THE  EMBARGO 

nationalize  ships   and  vessels,    before  stated  (ante 
p.  400).* 

This  embargo  law  was  the  first  time  that  the 
United  States  had  refused  to  recognize  it  in  the 
practices  of  other  nations.  '  It  was  not  until  after 
the  peace  of  1815  that  a  law  of  the  United  States 
required  that  two-thirds  (or  three-fourths)  of  the. 
crew  should  also  be  citizens  of  the  United  States  on 
board  an  American  vessel. 

The  export  or  attempt  to  export  any  goods  wares, 
merchandise,  provisions,  naval  and  military  stores, 
or  live  stock  or  specie  or  coin  by  any  vessel  or 
water  craft,  or  by  cart,  sled,  or  carriage  by  land, 
were  prohibited  under  penalty  of  forfeiture,  fine  or 
imprisonment,  etc. 

The  collectors  of  customs  were  allowed  to  grant 
permission  to  boats  or  vessels  whose  usual  employ 
ment  was  in  the  coasting  trade,  to  take  on  board  at 
any  time  such  articles  of  domestic  or  foreign  growth 
as  designated  in  such  permission,  a  bond  being 
given  to  the  United  States  by  the  owners,  consign 
ees,  or  factors  of  such  vessel  or  boat  and  by  the 
master  thereof,  in  an  amount  equal  to  three  hundred 
dollars  for  each  ton  of  the  vessel  or  boat,  that  such 

*It  was  under  these  laws  that  so  many  American  vessels  were 

seized  prior  to  the  war  of  1812. 

The  number  of  vessels  captured  sailing  under  the  flag-  of  the 

United   States    from    1803   to   1812,    most   of   them   carrying-  a 

license  of  another  nation,  were  as  follows  : 

By  Great  Britain 917 

' '     France * 558 

"     Neapolitan 47 

Denmark 70 

Total 1,592 

The  number  captured  by  Spain  and  Portugal  and  other  pow 
ers  were  numerous. 


ON  THE  COASTING   TRADE.  413 

vessel  or  boat  would  not,  during  the  time  limited  in 
said  bond,  depart  from  any  collector's  district  with 
out  having  previously  obtained  a  clearance  nor  un 
til  the  delivery  to  the  collector  or  surveyor  of  the 
port  of  departure  a  manifest  of  the  whole  cargo  on 
board,  and  shall  not,  during  the  time  mentioned, 
proceed  to  any  other  port  or  place  than  that  men 
tioned  in  the  clearance,  nor  put  any  article  on  board 
of  any  other  vessel  or  boat  employed  in  any  foreign 
trade,  and  that  on  every  voyage  or  trip  the  whole 
of  the  cargo  be  landed  in  a  port  or  place  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  United  States. 

Section  10  of  the  act  provided  :  "  That  the  col 
lectors  of  all  districts  of  the  United  States  and  the 
territories  thereof  shall  and  they  are  hereby  author 
ized  to  take  into  their  custody  any  specie,  goods, 
wares,  merchandise,  provisions,  naval  or  military 
stores  or  live  stock,  found  on  board  of  any  ship  or 
vessel,  boat  or  other  water  craft,  where  there  is  rea 
son  to  believe  that  they  are  intended  for  exporta 
tion,  or  when  in  vessels,  carts,  wagons,  sleighs  or 
any  other  carriage,  or  in  any  manner  apparently  on 
their  way  towards  the  territories  of  a  foreign  nation, 
or  the  vicinity  thereof,  or  towards  a  place  whence 
such  articles  are  intended  to  be  exported,  or  place  in 
the  possession  of  the  United  States  ;  and  not  to  per 
mit  such  articles  to  be  removed  until  bond  with 
sufficient  sureties  shall  have  been  given  for  the 
landing  or  delivery  of  the  same  in  some  place  of  the 
United  States  whence,  in  the  opinion  of  the  col 
lector,  there  shall  not  be  any  danger  of  such  articles 
being  exported  or  placed  in  the  possession  of  the 
enemies  of  the  United  States." 

The  president  was  authorized  to  employ  any  part 


414  EFFECT  OF  BLOCKADE  AND 

of  the  land  and  naval  forces  or  the  militia  to 
enforce  the  act,  and  the  public  and  private  armed 
vessels  (privateers)  of  the  United  States  were  au 
thorized  to  capture  and  seize  on  the  high  seas  or 
elsewhere,  any  ship  or  vessel  which  violated  the  law, 
and  it  would  be  regarded  as  a  good  prize. 

The  effect  of  this  measure,  which  entirely  pre 
vented  any  intercourse  by  water  between  even 
neighboring  ports  of  the  same  State  without  permit 
of  the  collector  of  customs,  excepting  on  some  of  the 
inland  waters,  were  felt  with  peculiar  severity  by 
the  towns  which  depended  so  largely  upon  the 
coasting  trade  for  their  supplies. 

The  action  and  position  of  the  New  England 
States  in  regard  to  the  war,  and  the  fact  that  her 
ports  [were  not  blockaded  by  the  enemy  led  to  this 
remarkable  embargo  law. 

'  The  result  of  the  British  blockade  and  of  the 
embargo  laws  was  to  soon  effectually  close  the  sea 
port  of  New  York  by  the  way  of  Sandy  Hook  and 
Long  Island  Sound/  and  to  render  any  kind  of  nav 
igation  out  or  in  those  directions  extremely  dan 
gerous  to  even  attempt. 

The  condition  of  means  of  supplies  to  New  York 
on  January  1st,  1814,  were  as  follows  : 

1.  The  harbor  was  blockaded  by  British  war  ves 
sels  which  prevented  entrance  and  departure  by 
vessels  of  neutral  nations,  and  also   prevented  the 
entry  and  departure  of  American  vessels. 

2.  The  latter  vessels  were  not  allowed  to  depart 
for  a  foreign  port  ;  by  law  of  Congress  they  would 
be  forfeited  even  if  they  passed  the  blockading  ves 
sels.     All  vessels  and  boats  were  subjected  to  mili 
tary  surveillance. 


EMBARGO   ON  XEW  YORK.  415 

3.  Neutral  vessels  were  only  allowed  to  depart, 
practically  without  cargoes,  and  take  the  chances  of 
running  the  blockade,  and  if  they  wished  to  bring 
cargoes  into  the  port  they  must  run  the  blockade  to 
get  in. 

Thus  New  York  city  and  vicinity  was  situated  at 
the  beginning  of  the  winter  of  1813-14:  when  inland 
means  of  transportation  was  the  most  difficult  by 
reason  of  the  closing  of  rivers  and  roads  by  snow 
and  ice. 

The  extent  of  the  manufactures  were  not  enough 
for  home  consumption,  and  productions  of  the  coun 
try  were  mainly  grain  and  live  animals. 

The  other  articles  chiefly  used  by  the  inhabitants 
were  imported. 

The  supplies  for  the  inhabitants  must  be  made 
mainly  by  wagon  and  sleigh  conveyance.  All  the 
imported  articles  used  must  be  brought  from  some 
American  port  that  was  not  blockaded.  Boston 
was  the  most  available  for  that  purpose. 

Never,  since  the  white  man  first  stepped  his  foot 
upon  Manhatten  Island,  had  the  means  of  supplying 
its  inhabitants  with  food  and  clothing  been  so 
much  limited  and  restricted,  and  it  can  never  be 
so  difficult  again  to  get  supplies  so  long  as  canals, 
railroads  and  steam  navigation  exists. 


APPENDIX. 

NOTE  J. 

SOCIAL,  POLITICAL  AND  FINANCIAL  STATISTICS  OF 
THE  INHABITANTS  OF  NEW  YORK  CITY  DURING 
THE  PERIOD  FROM  1810  TO  1816. 

The  following  statements  are  compiled  from  of 
ficial  sources  : 

On  1st  June,  1810,  by  the  United  States  census, 
New  York  city  contained  96,373  persons,  of  whom 
1,686  were  slaves.  In  that  year  there  were  14,600 
names  in  Longworth's  city  directory.  In  June,  1812, 
there  were  17,700  names.  From  this  we  may  in 
fer  the  population  at  about  98,000.  But  in  June, 
1814,  there  were  only  14,508  names,  while  the  State 
census,  carefully  taken,  shows  a  detailed  statement 
of  only  95,519  persons,  of  whom  920  were  slaves, 
being  856  persons  less  than  in  1810. 

Summary  of  census  of  New  York  city  by  wards  on 
June  1st,  1810,  and  June,  1814,  and  on  Dec.  1st,  1816. 

Wards.  1810.  1814.                   1816. 

1 7,941  7,630      8,529 

2 8,493  7,439      8,299 

3 7,426  7,495      8,034 

4 10,226  9,856  11,026 

5 14,744  14,523  14,734 

6 11,286  11,821  12,686 

7 12,120  10,886      9,071 

8 9,128  10,702  12,198 

9  4,719  4,343      3,250 

10 10,290  10,824  11,896 


Totals....  96, 373     95,519     100,233 


418  APPENDIX— NOTE  1. 

The  number  of  inhabitants,  by  sexes,  number  of 
freeholders,  tenants,  slaves,  aliens,  owners  of  per 
sonal  property  over  $150  in  value,  electors,  freehold, 
ers  of  $500  in  value  and  upwards,  voters,  etc. ,  appear 
in  the  following  tables  : 

A  city  census  was  taken  in  December,  1813,  under 
the  jury  law.  It  shows  : 

Freeholders 3,212 

Persons  owing  personal   property  over 

$150  in  value 5,612 

Tenants 13,804 

Jurors 4,138 

Aliens 3,495 

Slaves..  9T6 


Total  population 92,448 

This  shows  the  total  population  to  be  2,825  less 
than  in  1810  by  the  Federal  census. 

A  State  census  of  New  York  city  and  county 
'taken  on  June  1st,  1814,  shows  : 

Electors  possessed  of  freeholds  of  $250 3,141 

"    value  of  $50  and  under  . .        17 
"       no  freehold  yet  yearly  rent  of  $5,  10,768 

Freemen  under  charter 20 

Free  white  males  under  18  years  of  age ...  20, 514 
bet.  18  and  45  years..   15,561 

"          "       over  45  years 4,697 

"      females  under  18 21,558 

«  "     between  18  and  45 ....   18,744 

over   45 5,254 

All  other  free  persons  of  both  sexes, 8,271 

Slaves..  920 


Total 95,519 

The  votes  for  aldermen  at  the   charter  election 
held  in  November  were  in — 


APPENDIX— NOTE  1.  419 

Wards.                                                                1813.  1814. 

1 854  642 

2 900*  900 

3 883  773* 

4 1,111  1,091 

5 1,176  1,241 

6 907  954 

7 984  892 

8 658  700     . 

9 372  283* 

10 1,127  1,082 

Total.  8,952         8,558 

The  details  of  the  city  enumeration  of  December, 
1816  were  as  follows  : 

Total  population 100,233 

Jurors 3,793 

White  males 41,424 

"      females 43,819 

Alien  white  males 3,891 

"      females 3,098 

Free  colored  males 4, 576 

Slaves,  males 228 

females 389 

Freeholders,  $500  and  upwards 2,708 

Tenants  renting  at  $25  and  upwards  per 

year 16,197 

It  appear  that  the  population  then  reached  100,- 
233;  of  these  there  were  more  than  3,000  more  aliens 
than  in  1813. 

The  number  of  names  in  city  directory  in  June, 
1816,  were  19,400,  which  would  be  a  fair  average 
proportion  fora  population  of  100,233. 

The  differences  shown  by  the  State  and  Federal 
enumerations  being  more  than  those  of  the  city 

*  Estimated  voters. 


420 


APPENDIX— NOTE  11. 


may  be  reconciled  by  the  fact  that  in  the  former 
those  absent,  but  whose  usual  home  was  in  the  city, 
were  counted,  while  the  city  enumeration  shows 
only  actual  residents. 

The  names  in  the  city  directory,  after  all,  is  the 
most  reliable  estimate  of  the  increase  or  decrease  of 
the  inhabitants  during  that  period.  It  was  made 
up  in  June  of  each  year  and  covered  .the  period  of 
year  commencing  on  July  4th  following,  giving 
the  number  of  names  as  follows  : 

1808  to  J809 14,850 

1809  to  1810 14,450 

1810  to  1811 14^600 

1811  to  1812 17,775 

1812  to  1813 17,700 

1813  to  1814 '. 14,508 

1814  to  1815 15,850 

1815  to  1816 17,400 

1816  to  1817 19,409 

NOTE  II. 

STATEMENT  OF  DEATHS  IN  THE  CITY  IN  THE   FOL 
LOWING  YEARS  FROM  ALL  CAUSES  : 

1810 2,073     1813      .....  2,207 

1811 2,431     1814 1,884 

1812 2,482     1815 2,402 

Statement  of  Causes  of  Deaths  in  New  York  City 
in  the  following  years. 


CAUSES. 


Abscess, 

Aneurism, 

Apoplexy, 


1810 


5 

1 

45 


1811 


4 

1 

47 


1812 

3 

1 


1813 


34      33 


1814 


5 

1 

37 


1815 


4 
3 

57 


APPENDIX— NOTE  II. 


421 


Statement  of  Causes  of  Deaths — (continued}. 


CAUSES. 

1810 

1811 

1812 

1813 

1814 

1815 

Asphyxia,      .... 
Asthma,      

4 
13 

4 

11 

1 

6 

18 

6 

1 

13 

Bleeding  Lungs,     .  '  . 
Cancer    

4 
5 

4 

6 

5 

7 

5 
19 

2 
12 

7 
4 

Casualties,    .... 
Cholera  Infantum,  .     . 
Morbus,     .     . 
Consumption, 
Convulsions,      .     .     . 
Croup,    

106 
137 

8 
569 
145 
82 

70 

158 
12 
595 
162 
136 

90 
102 
4 
669 
174 
111 

88 
69 
13 

562 
124 

76 

40 

40 

9 
472 
140 

78 

104 

27 
9 
618 
162 
83 

Diabetes,  . 

2 

1 

2 

Diarrhoea, 

23 

16 

7 

99 

18 

34 

Dropsy, 

118 

190 

104 

99 

95 

107 

Dysentery, 

12 

99 

37 

145 

72 

84 

EnileDsv, 

3 

3 

3 

9 

2 

1 

Ervsipelas,       .... 

3 

2 

1 

9 

1 

Fever,  undefined,  . 

10 

19 

17 

12 

"      Intermittent,    . 
*'       Puerperal,  .     . 
"      Remittent,    .     . 
Fever,  Scarlet,  .     . 
Typhus,    .     .     . 
Gout,  .     .          ... 

6 
21 
9 
1 
65 
3 

8 
25 
29 

156 

9 

10 
14 
37 

171 
1 

6 
16 
18 
1 
121 
4 

2 
13 
14 
1 
142 
2 

5 
20 
3 

120 

2 

Heart  Disease,     .      .     . 
Hooping  Cough,    .     . 
Hydrocephalus,    .     .     . 
Inflammat'n  of  Bowels, 
"              Lungs, 
Throat, 
Insanity, 

42 
44 

42 
38 
134 
11 
5 

28 
43 
28 
44 
103 
14 
10 

55 
82 
55 
36 
225 
11 
8 

48 
89 
48 
31 
202 
6 
4 

50 
50 
50 
25 
66 
4 
8 

56 
95 
56 
26 
202 
18 
15 

Intemperance,   .     .     . 
Jaundice,    
Lues  Venera,    .     .     . 
Marasmus,      .... 
Measles,    

30 

2*2 
2 

19 

7 
18 

"2 

18 
4 
10 

2 
9 

9 
8 
4 
2 
35 

7 
7 
7 
11 
15 

12 
11 
8 
11 
18 

422 


APPENDIX— NOTE  111. 


Statement  of  Causes  of  Deaths — (continued). 


CAUSES. 

1810 

1811 

1812 

1813 

1814 

1815 

Mortification,  .... 
Old  Age, 

9 

88 

10 

85 

19 

85 

9 

60 

11 

56 

16 

73 

Palsv. 

98 

90 

19 

26 

97 

25 

Rheumatism, 
Schirrhus,   

5 

4 

5 

5 

3 

7 
3 

Scrofula,        .... 
Smallpox,  
Stone  in  Bladder, 
Suicide,       

1 
4 
4 

8 

1 
117 

1 
9 

4 
21 
1 

5 

8 
2 
1 
11 

4 

2 
1 
6 

4 

194 

5 
5 

Teething,       .... 
Tetanus,      

45 
3 

44 

9, 

38 
4 

37 

5 

33 
3 

48 
8 

NOTE  III. 

CITY  GOVERNMENT. 

The  Mayor  and  Recorder  were  appointed  in  the 
Spring  of  each  year  by  the  State  council  of  ap 
pointment.  The  other  members  of  the  common 
council,  consisting  of  the  aldermen  and  assistant 
aldermen,  were  elected  at  the  charter  election  which 
was  held  in  each  year  for  three  days,  commencing 
on  the  third  Tuesday  of  November.  The  political 
year  for  elected  charter  officers  commenced  on  the 
first  Monday  of  December. 

Common   Council — 1811-1815. 


Mayor,  De  Witt  Clinton,  to   March  20,  1815  ;    Re 
corder,  Pierre  C.  Van  Wyck,   1811-12  to  April  12, 


APPENDIX— NOTE  III.  423 

1813  ;  Josiah  Ogden  Hoffman,  from  April  12,  1813, 
to  April  3,  1815  ;  Clerk  of  Common  Council,  Jacob 
Morton. 

Board  of  Aldermen  and  Assistants. 
Aldermen — December,  1811,  to  December,  1812. 

Ward.  Name  and  Occupation.  Politics. 

1  Peter  Mesier,  flour  merchant,      .     .  Federalist 

2  Thomas  Carpenter,  merchant,  .     . 

3  Chas.  Dickenson,  ship  chandler,  .     . 

4  Kichard  Cunningham,  tanner,    . 

5  John  Morss,  mason, Democrat 

6  Isaac  S.  Douglass,  merchant,     .     .     Federalist 

7  George  Buckmaster,  retired,    .     .     .  Democrat 

8  Peter  H.  Wendover,  sailmaker,     . 

9  Nicholas  Fish  (retired),  lawyer,    .     .  Federalist 
10  John  Pell,  hutcher, Democrat 

Assistant  Aldermen — 1811-1812. 

Ward.  Name  and  Occupation.  Politics- 

1  Samuel  Jones,  Jr.,  lawyer,      .     .     .  Federalist 

2  Peter  Hawes,  lawyer, 

3  Augustine  H.  Lawrence,  merchant, 

4  Elisha  W.  King,  lawyer,    .... 

5  George  Wilson,  lawyer,   ....      Democrat 

6  Josiah  Hedden,  lawyer,      .     .    *.     .  Federalist 

7  Michael  M.  Titus,  lumber  merchant,  Democrat 

8  William  J.  Waldron,  grocer,  .     .     . 

9  William  A.  Hardenbrock,     .     .     .     Federalist 
10  John  Drake,  merchant,       ....  Democrat 

Aldermen — December,  1812,  to  December,  1813. 
Ke-elected    in  all  wards  excepting  in    place  of 


424  APPENDIX-NOTE  111. 

Thomas  Carpenter  in  second  ward,  John  Vanderbilt, 
Jr.,  occupation,  merchant;  politics,  Federalist. 

Assistant  Aldermen. 
Ke-elected  in  each  ward. 

Aldermen — December,  1813,  to  December,  1814. 

Ward.  Name  and  Occupation.  Politics. 

1  Peter  Mesier,  re-elected,     ....  Federalist 

2  Jonas  Mapes,  merchant  tailor, .     . 

3  Charles  Dickeiison,  re-elected, 

4  Peter  McCartie,  currier,  ....  " 

5  Thomas  E.  Smith,  merchant,      .     .  Democrat 

6  Jonathan  Lawrence,  merchant,     .  " 

7  George  Buckmaster,  re-elected,  .     .          <c 

8  Peter  H.  Wendover, 

9  Nicholas  Fish,  .     .  Federalist 
10  Eeuben  Munson,  comb-maker, .     .     Democrat 

Assistant  Aldermen — December,    1813,    to  Decem 
ber,  1814. 

Ward.  Name  and  Occupation.  Politics. 

1  John  Nitchie,  starch  manufacturer,  Federalist 

2  Joseph  W.  Brackett,  lawyer,    .     . 

3  Augustine  H.  Lawrence,  re-elected,          " 

4  Elisha  W.  King,  re-elected,  ...  " 

5  Gideon  Tucker,  plaster  of  Paris, .     .  Democrat 

7  Mott  Cannon,  dry  goods,  ....  'c 
9     Asa  Mann,  lumber  merchant,      .     .          " 

8  Arthur  Burtis, 

9  Wm.  A.  Hardenbrook,  re-elected,    .  Federalist 
10    Noah  Brown,  shipbuilder,    .     .'    .      Democrat 


APPENDIX— NOTE  III.  425 

Aldermen — December,  1814,  to  December,  1815. 

Re-elected  in  each  ward,  excepting  in  place  of 
Charles  Dickerson  in  third  ward,  Augustine  H. 
Lawrence  of  the  previous  assistants;  and  in  the 
eighth  ward  in  place  of  Peter  fl.  Wendover,  Wil 
liam  Few,  retired;  politics,  Democrat. 

Assistant  Aldermen — December,  1814,  to  December, 

1815. 

Ward.  Name  and  Occupation.  Politics. 

1  Samuel  Jones,  Jr.,  lawyer,     .     .     .  Federalist 

2  Jacob  Lorillard,  tanner,   .... 

3  Anthony  L.  Underbill,  merchant,    . 

4  Elisha  W.  King,  lawyer,  .... 

5  Gideon  Tucker,  re-elected,      .     .     . 

6  Daniel  E.  Tylee,  dry  goods,  .     .     . 

7  Asa  Mann,  re-elected, Democrat 

8  Arthur  Burtis,  re-elected,      .     .     . 

9  Wm.  A.  Hardenbrook,  re-elected,    .  Federalist 
10  Noah  Brown,  re-elected,  ....      Democrat 


The  committee  of  defense  appointed  by  the  com 
mon  council  during  each  year  was  as  follows  : 

Appointed  December  2,  1811. 

Aldermen  Fish,  Morss,  Mesier,  and  Carpenter. 
Assistant  Aldermen,  Jones,  Hawes  and  Drake. 

Appointed  December  14,  1812. 

Aldermen  Fish,  Moss,  Mesier,  and  Buckmaster. 
Assistant     Aldermen,    Nitchie,     Brackett,      and 
;Smith. 


426  APPENDIX— NOTE  IV. 


Appointed  December  13,  1813. 

Aldermen  Fish,  Smith,  Mesier  and  Buckmaster. 
Assistant  Aldermen  Nitchie,  Brackett,  Tucker. 

Appointed  December  13,  1814. 

Aldermen  Fish,  Smith,  Mesier,  Buckmaster. 
Assistant  Aldermen  Mapes,  Brackett,  and  Doug 
lass. 


NOTE    IV. 

PUBLIC  BUILDINGS,  MARKETS,  ETC.,  ETC.,  1812-15.* 

Post  Office,  s  w  cor  William  st  and  Exchange  pi 

Bridewell  Prison,  w  s  City  Hall  in  Park 

Columbia  College,   blocks    between     Barclay  and 

Murray  and  Church  sts  and  College  Place. 
Almshouse,  n  s  City  Hall  in  Park  on  Chambers  st. 
City  Hall,  in  Park  bet  Broadway  and  Chatham  Row 
Jail  for  debtors,  etc.,  e  s  City  Hall  in  Park 
Government  House,  s  s  Bowling  Green 
State  Prison,  w  s  Washington,  from  Christopher  to 

Perry  sts  and  Hudson  River 

U.   S.  Custom  House  s  s  Bowling  Green  in  Govern 
ment  House 
N.  Y.   Hospital,  block  Anthony  and  Duane,  Bwy 

and  Church  st 
Insane  Asylum,  n  e  cor  Church  and  Duane  sts 


*  The  present  name  of  streets  are  given. 


APPENDIX— NOTE  IV.  427 


College  of  Physicians    and  Surgeons,   n  s  Barclay 
st 

City  Dispensary  and  Soup  House,  s  w  corner  Cham 
bers  and  Centre  sts. 

Orphan  Asylum,  w  s  Bank  st  n  Greenwich  ave 

Academy  of  Arts,  Government  House,    s   s  Bow 
ling  Green 

N.  Y.  Historical  Society,  do. 

Naval  Office,  do. 

U.  S.  Marshal's  Office,  do. 

City  Library  (Society  Library),  w  s  Nassau  st  bet 
Cedar  and  Liberty. 

Broadway  Circus  (old,  erected  1795),  n  e  cor  Bwy 
and  White  sts. 

Olympic  Theatre,  opened  1812,  old  Bwy  Circus.* 

Commonwealth  Theatre  opened  1813,  do. 

Broadway  Circus  (new,  erected  1810),  e  s  Bw^y  bet. 
Howard  and  Grand  sts. 

Scudder's  Museum,  Chatham  Kow  e  s  opposite  Try- 
on  Row 

Park  Theatre,  e  s  Park  Eow  bet  Ann  and  Beek- 
man  sts 

Anthony  st  Theatre,  n  s  Worth  opposite  Hospital,  t 

Manhattan  Water  Works,  n  s  Reade,  bet.  Elm  and 
Centre  sts. 

Manhattan  Reservoir,  n  s  Chamber  nr  Centre  st 

Washington  Hall,  Bwy  s  e  cor  Reade  st 

St.    John's   Hall,    n  s    Frankfort    near    Chatham 
Row 

Mechanics'  Hall,  n  w  cor  Bwy  and  Park  pi 

*  First  opened  May  20,  1812.  The  location  is  erroneously  stated 
ante,  at  page  51. 

f  First  opened  on  April  18,  1814.  The  name  is  erroneously  stated 
ante,  at  page  51. 


428  APPENDIX— NOTE  IV. 

Tammany  Hall,  s  e  cor  Park  Row  and  Frankfort  st 

Harmony  Hall,  11  Duane  st 

Dyde's  Military  Hall,  Bwy  nr  Clinton  Place. 

Fly  Market,  Maiden  Lane  from  Pearl  st  to  slip. 

Bare  Market,  middle  of  Vesey  st  w  of  Greenwich  to 
Hudson  River.* 

Duane  Market,  Washington  and  Duane  sts 

Catherine  Market,  Catherine  st  from  Cherry  to 
Front 

Spring  Market,  Spring  and  Greenwich  sts 

Greenwich  Market,  s  e  cor  Christopher  and  Wash 
ington  sts 

Grand  Market,  s  e  Grand  street  and  East  river. 

Exchange  Market,  Broad  st,  from  Front  to  South  st 

City  Hotel,  w  s  Bwy  bet  Cedar  and  Thomas  sts 

Bank  Coffee  House,  s  e  cor  Pine  and  William  sts 

Tontine  Coffee  House,  s  s  Wall  bet  Water  and 
Front  sts 

Parise's  New  Garden,  265  Bwy, 

Ensley's  Columbia  Garden,  307  Bwy. 

Contort' s,  New  York  Garden,  355  Bwy. 

Tyler's  Washington  Garden,  Spring  nr  Greenwich  st 

Knox's  Bowling  Alley,  Allen,  near  Hester  st 

Sailor's  Snug  Harbor,  s  w  cor  Ninth  st  and  Bwy. 

Episcopal  Charity  School,  w  s  New  Church,  bet 
Rector  and  Thames  sts 

Free  School  No.  1,  Tryon  Row 

Free  School  No.  2,  Henry  e  s  bet  Pike  and  Rut 
gers  sts 

N.B. — Many  other    places  not    mentioned    here 
can  be  found  in  the  foregoing  pages. 

*  See  "Mitchell's  Guide  to  New  York  City,"  1807. 


APPENDIX— NOTE  V.  429 


NOTE  V. 
CHURCHES. 

Episcopal. — Grace,  s  w  cor  Broadway  and  Eector; 

Trinity,  w  s  Broadway  opposite  Wall; 

St.  Paul's,  ws  Broadway  bet  Fulton  and  Vesey; 

Christ's,  n  s  Ann  bet  Nassau  and  William; 

St.  George's  Chapel,  n  w  cor  Beekman  and  Cliff; 

St.  John's- Church,  Varick  opposite  Hudson  square;. 

St.  Stephen's,  s  e  cor  Broome  and  Chrystie  streets; 

Zion,  11  w  cor  Mott  and  Park  streets; 

St.  James',  s  s  E  69th  st  bet  3d  and  4th  aves; 

St.  Michael's,  Bloomingdale  Road  w  s  10th  Ave 
bet  99th  &  100th  Sts; 

St.  Mark's,  n  s  Tenth  n  w  cor  Second  Ave; 

French  Episcopal,  n  e  cor  Pine  and  Nassau  streets. 
Presbyterian. — Wall  street  n  s  bet  Broadway  and 
Nassau;  n  s  Beekman  bet  Park  Row  and  Nas 
sau;  w  s  Elizabeth  near  Hester;  s  w  cor  Rut 
gers  and  Henry;  s  s  Spring  bet  Clark  and 
Varick : 

Irish,  e  s  Orange  bet  Hester  and  Grand; 

Reformed  Presbyterian,  n  s  Chambers  street  op 
posite  Almshouse; 

Associate  Reformed,  s  s  Cedar  bet  Broadway  and 
Nassau;  n  s  Pearl,  bet  Broadway  and  Elm;  n  s 
Murray,  bet  Church  and  College  Place; 

Seceders,  e  s  Nassau  bet  John  and  Fulton  streets; 
Union  Road,  Greenwich  (now  s  e  cor  Sixth  Ave 
and  Twelfth  street). 

Baptist. — Gold  street,  w  s  bet  John  and  Fulton  ;  n  s 
Fayette,  bet  Henry  and  Harman  ;  s  e  cor  Rose 


430  APPKNDJX—NOTE   V. 

and  Pearl ;  s  s  Mulberry,  bet  Chatham  and 
Park  streets  ;  s  w  cor  Broome  and  Elizabeth  ; 
11  s  Vandam,  bet  Hudson  and  Varick. 

Welsh,  e  s  Mott,  bet  Bayard  and  Walker  ; 

Ebenezer,  s  w  cor  Broadway  and  Worth  street ; 

African,  s  s  Anthony,  bet  Church  street  and  West 

Broadway. 

Methodist. — John  street,  s  s  bet  Nassau  and  Wil 
liam  ;  s  s  Duane,  bet  Greenwich  and  Hudson  : 
e  s  Allen,  bet  Delancey  and  Rivingtoii ;  n  s 
Fourth,  bet  Second  and  Third  avenues  ;  s  e  cor 
Bedford  and  Cornelia. 

African,    s  w  cor    Church    and  Leonard  ;  w  s 

Greene,  bet  Houston  and  Prince. 
Dutch  Reformed. — South,  n  s  Exchange  Place,  bet 
Nassau  and  William  ; 

Middle,  n  e  cor  Cedar  and  Nassau  ; 

North,  11  w  cor  William  and  Fulton  st ; 

Dutch  Nortlrwest,  s  s  Franklin,  bet  Church   and 
College  Place  ;  do.  s  e  cor  Bleecker  andCharles  ; 

German  Calvinistic   Reformed,  e  s  Nassau,  bet 
John  and  Maiden  Lane  ; 

German  Lutheran,  n  e  cor  William  and  Frank 
fort  ; 

Dutch  Reformed,  Harseiiville,  s  e  cor   Seventieth 
street  and  Tenth   avenue ;  Harlem,  w  s   First 
avenue,  bet  124th  and  125th  streets. 
Moravian. — Fulton  street,  s  sbet  William  and  Nas 
sau. 
Universalist. — Pearl  street,  n  s   opposite  City   Hall 

Place. 

Roman  Catholic. — St.  Peter's,  s  e  cor  Barclay  and 
Church;  St.  Patrick's  (being  erected)  w  s  Mott, 
Prince  to  Mulberry. 


APPENDIX— NOTE   VI.  431 

Friends. — Old  Meeting  House,  n  s  Liberty,  bet 
Broadway  and  Nassau  ;  New  Meeting  House,  e 
s  Pearl,  bet  Cherry  and  Oak. 

Jewish. — Synagogue,  11  s  Stone,  bet  Broadway  and 
William. 


NOTE  VI. 

ROLL  OP  MILITARY  OFFICERS  IN  SERVICE  AT  NEW 
YORK  AND  VICINITY  IN  THE  YEAR  1812. 

Commanders  of  Militia  Brigades  and  Regiments 
assigned  April  13,  1812. 

3d  Brigade  Infantry  (New  York  city),  Gen.  Peter 
P.  Van  Zandt,  commander. 

10th  Regt.,  Andrew  Anderson. 

51st      "      Isaac  A.  Van  Hook. 

82d       "      Robert  Bogardus.  3 

125th    "      Daniel  Dodge. 

142d     "      Jonas  Mapes. 

146th   u      John  Garretson.     (Staten  Island.) 

10th  Brigade  of  Infantry  (New  York  city),  Gen. 
Gerard  Steddiford,  commander. 

75th  Regt.,  Jasper  Ward. 

85th      "      Edward  W.  Laight. 

97th      "      Wm.  Paulding,  Jr. 

106th    "      Jacob  Delamontagnie. 

115th    "      Beekman  M.  Van  Beuren. 

22d  Brigade  of  Infantry  (Kings  and  Queens 
•counties),  commanded  by  Gen.  Jacob  S.  Jackson. 

64th  Regt.,  Jeremiah  Johnson. 

93d        "      John  Ditmis. 

100th     "  -  Hendrickson. 

117th     "      John  Simonson. 


432  APPENDIX— NOTE   VI. 

15th Brigade  (southern  part  of  Westchester  Co.),, 
Gen.  Thomas  Carpenter,  commander. 

12th  Kegt.,  Jonathan  Varian. 

33d        "      David  Hobby,  Jr. 

38th      "      Abijah  Harris. 

139th     "      Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  Jr. 

33d  Brigade  (Suffolk  Co.),  Gen.  Abraham  Rose, 
commander. 

80th    Eegt.,  Isaac  Wickham. 

107th    "        Daniel  Youngs. 

182d      "        James  Davis. 

137th    "        James  Floyd. 

Officers  in  militia  detached  from  10th  brigade  of 
infantry,  organized  as  first  regiment  of  first  brigade 
of  detached  infantry  militia,  Lieut. -Col.  Beekman 
M.  Van  Beuren,  commander. 

Staff  Officers. 

Adjt. — Peter  B.  Van  Beuren. 

Q.  M.— James  D.  Bisset. 

P.  M. — Lemuel  Jenkins. 

Surgeon — John  Gamage. 

Surg.  Mate — Samuel  Woodruff. 

Chaplain — John  X.  Clark. 

Sergeant  Major — Sewell  Dodge. 
»  The   six   companies   drafted  from    Gen.  Steddi- 
ford's  10th  brigade  formed   the  first  battalion,  and 
John  Coffin  was  assigned  as  first  major  with  the  fol 
lowing  company  officers. 

Capt.,  Joseph  Tate  ;  Lieut.,  Charles  Eggleson  : 
Ensg.,  H.  McBride. 

Capt.,  John  McClure ;  Lieut.,  John  L.  Eiker ; 
Ensg.,  B.  T.  Underbill. 


APPENDIX— NOTE   VI.  433 

Capt. ,   Charles  Clark ;    Lieut. ,   Daniel  Warren  ; 
Ensg.,  Erastus  Glover. 

Capt.,  Christian  Kartell  ;  Lieut.,  G.  W.  Varian  ; 
Ensg.,  John  Ten  Brook. 

Capt.,  P.  B.  Van  Beuren  ;  Lieut.,  John  B.  Steven 
son  ;  Ensg.,  John  Brower. 

Capt.,  Joseph  Delafield  ;  Lieut.,  Fred  Muzzy. 

Capt.,  Charles  Hughes. 

The  four  companies  drafted  from  Gen.  Van  Cort- 
landt's  (formerly  Gen.  Carpenter's)  15th  brigade 
formed  the  second  battalion,  under  command  of 
Jackson  Odell,  as  second  major,  which  formed  part 
of  first  regiment  of  first  brigade  of  detached 
militia,  under  the  following  company  officers  : 

Capt. ,  Lawrence  Davenport,  of  New  Kochelle ; 
Lieut.,  John  Butler  ;  Ensg.,  Abijah  Morgan. 

Capt.,  Abraham  Smith,  of  Northcastle  ;  Lieut., 
Daniel  Haight  ;  Ensg.,  Abraham  Hammond. 

Capt.,  Isaac  Waterbury,  of  Poundridge  ;  Lieut., 
Stephen  Weed  ;  Ensg.,  Joseph  Miller. 

Capt. ,  Wilhelmus  Garretson,  of  Yorktown ; 
Lieut.,  James  White  ;  Ensg.,  -  -  Lent. 

Officers  in  militia  detached  from  third  brigade  of 
infantry  (organized  as  second  regiment  of  first 
brigade  of  detached  infantry  militia. 
Lieut. -Col.  Jonas  Mapes,  commander.) 

Staff  Officers. 
First  Major — Tunis  Kiker. 
Second  Major — William  Thorn. 
Paymaster — John  Anthon. 
Adjutant— Theodore  V.  W.  Varick. 
Q.  M. — John  OgdenDey. 
Surgeon — Charles  Drake. 


434  APPENDIX— NOTE    VI. 

Surgeon's  Mate — Robert  Ludlow. 

Sergeant's  Major — Henry  Wai  worth. 

2d  Sergeant — John  Seaman. 

Capt.,  Henry  Perrine  ;  Lieut.,  John  Tysen,  Jr.; 
Ensg.,  Matthias  Burger,  Jr. 

Capt.,  Wm.  S.  Hick;  Lieut.,  Nathaniel  F.  Jen 
nings  ;  Ensg.,  John  B.  Spicer. 

Capt.,  Robert  M.  Eussell ;  Lieut.,  Thomas  Alsop  ; 
Ensg.,  Henry  H.  McComb. 

Capt.,  Robert  Hyslop  ;  Lieut.,  Isaac  H.  Coles  ; 
Ensg.,  Cornelius  R.  Duffie. 

Capt.,  C.  Schermerhorn,  Jr.;  Lieut.,  John  I. 
Sickles  ;  Ensg.,  Theo.  V.  W.  Varick. 

Capt.,  Stephen  Price  ;  Lieut.,  Wm.  Barnewall  ; 
Ensg.,  Gouverneur  S.  Bibby. 

Capt.,  Charles  King  ;  Lieut.,  Andrew  Bowne  ; 
Ensg.  Major  G:  Pell. 

Capt.,  Peter  Wilson,  Jr.;  Lieut.,  Moses  Blood- 
good  ;  Ensg.,  Peter  W.  Gales. 

Capt.,  Smith  Purdy. 

Capt.,  John  Stephens. 


Lieut. -Col.  Francis  McClure's  First  Regt.  of  Rifle 
men. 

Capts.    Joseph    Tate,    Lawrence  Powers,   Hugh 
Walker,  Gregory  Dillon,  Adam  Walker. 


Militia  orders  and  regulations  and  abstracts  of 
some  of  them,  during  the  year  1812,  relating  to  the 
defence  of  New  York  city  and  harbor. 

Order  dated  April  27,  1812,  directed  Major  Clark- 
son  Crolius  to  assume  the  command  of  97th  regi 
ment  of  infantry,  and  Major  T.  L'Hommedieu  the 


APPENDIX— NOTE   VL  435 


first  battalion,  and  John  McClure  the  second  battal 
ion  thereof .  This  regiment  was  called  "the  adju 
tant's  regiment,"  as  Ad  jut  ant- General  Paulding 
was  the  regular  commander  of  it. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  the  first  brigade  of 
artillery  (Gen.  Morton's),  was  as  follows  : 

First  regiment,  Lieut. -Col.  Curtenius ;  second 
regiment,  Lieut. -Col.  Fleet;  third  regiment,  Lieut. - 
Col.  Saltus  ;  fourth  regiment,  Lieut. -Col.  Sitcher. 

Order  dated  April  14,  1812,  brevetted  in  the  fourth 
regiment  of  artillery  (Lieut.  -Col.  Sitcher's)  William 
Swain,  lieutenant,  and  Matthew  Cunningham,  sur 
geon's  mate. 

In  the  second  company  of  horse  artillery:  Thomas 
Shaw,  captain;  Charles  A.  M.  McPherson,  first  lieu 
tenant  ;  Alex.  Sibbald,  second  lieutenant ;  and 
William  Bryce,  cornet. 

Three  new  companies  of  artillery  were  authorized 
and  required  to  be  raised  and  equipped.  George 
Nixon,  John  E.  Satterlee,  and  Thomas  S.  Eich 
were  captains  :  Stephen  A.  Eich,  James  Eonalds, 
Jr.,  and  Thomas  A.  Eeyiiolds  were  first  lieutenants  ; 
George  Sharp,  Eichard  Erwin,  and  Thomas  Steven 
son,  were  second  lieutenants. 

All  the  above  officers  were  "to  be  obeyed  and  re 
spected  agreeably  to  their  rank,  until  the  Council 
of  Appointment  shall  have  signified  its  pleasure  in 
reference  thereto." 

By  brigade  order  of  June  5,  1812,  the  quota  fur 
nished  from  the  first  and  third  regiments  of  artillery 
were  formed  into  one  battalion,  commanded  by 
Major  Eobert  Swartwout,  and  the  quota  from  the 
second  and  fourth  regiments  was  formed  into  one 
battalion  to  be  commanded  by  Major  John  Bleecker. 


4:36  APPENDIX—NOTE   VI. 

The  commandants  of  the  battalions  formed  their 
respective  quota  into  three  companies. 

To  the  command  of  Major  R.  Swart wout  the  fol 
lowing  captains  and  subalterns  were  assigned: 

Capt.  Home,  of  the  1st  Regt. ;  Capt.  Bloodgood,  of 
the  1st  Regt.;  Capt.  Hodgson,  of  the  3d  Regt. 

Lieuts.  HughMcLeod,of  the  1st  Regt. ;  Wm.  Bake- 
well,  of  the  1st  Regt.;  Timothy  Mills,  of  the"  1st 
Regt. ;  John  Woodward,  of  the  1st  Regt. ;  Wm.  L. 
Lippincott,  of  the  3d  Regt. ;  Stephen  Thorn,  of  the 
3d  Regt. 

To  the  battalion  commanded  by  Major  John 
Bleecker  were  assigned  : 

Captains  Thos.  W.  Gilbert,  of  2d  Regt. ;  Marston, 
of  2d  Regt.;  W.  T.  Hunter,  of  4th  Regt. 

Lieuts.  S.  Conover,  of  2d  Regt;  John  G.Cromwell, 
of  2d  Regt. ;  Joseph  Lametti,  of  2d  Regt. ;  Francis 
V.Woolsey,  of  2d  Regt.;  A.  T.  Crane,  of  4th  Regt.; 
Stephen  Phelps,  of  4th  Regt. 

Another  order  divided  the  third  regiment  of  ar 
tillery  into  two  regiments,  the  county  of  Dutchess 
to  compose  one  regiment,  to  be  under  command 
of  Lieut. -Col.  Nathan  Myers  and  Major  Samul  Slee. 
The  artillery  in  Rockland,  Orange  and  Ulster  coun 
ties  to  compose  another  regiment  of  artillery. 

Under  the  following  order  Gen.  Morton's  brigade 
consisted  of  the  2d,  3d,  9th,  and  U.th  artillery  regi 
ments  without  any  other  change  : 

"  STATE  OP  NEW  YORK. — GENERAL  ORDERS. 

"HEADQUARTERS,  ALBANY,  13th  June,  1812. 
"  The  Commander-in-chief  having  directed   the 
Adjutant  General  to  ascertain  by  lot  the  numbers 


APPENDIX— NOTE  VI.  437 

of  the  respective  regiments  of  artillery  in  this  State, 

is  pleased  to  announce  the  result  in  order,  as  fol 
lows  : 

1st  Eegt.  commanded  by  Henry  E.  Teller. 

2d       "                "  Peter  Curtenius. 

3d       "                "  Andrew  Sitcher. 

4th     "                "  Nathan  Myers. 

5th     "                "  Abel  Watkins. 

6th     "                "  Stephen  Thorn. 

7th     "                "  Walter  Grieve. 

8th     "                "  Joseph  French. 

9th     "                "  Simon  Fleet. 

10th     "                "  Selah  Strong, 

llth     "  Francis  Saltus.* 

12th     "                "  Elijah  H.  Metcalf. 

u  Major- General  Stevens  will  immediately  cause 
this  order  to  be  made  known  to  those  officers  of  his 
division  whom  it  may  concern. 

"  By  his  Excellency's  command, 
(Signed)  "  WILLIAM  PAULDING,  JR., 

"  Adjutant- General." 

When  the  Eleventh  regiment  offered  its  services 
in  July,  1812,  its  officers  were: 

Cornelius  Harsen,  Lieut.  -  Colonel  ;  John  W. 
Forbes,  First  Major  ;  Henry  Morgan,  Second  Major. 

First  company:  Aaron  Form  an,  Captain  ;  James 
Benedict,  First  Lieutenant ;  Joseph  Coles,  Second 
Lieutenant. 


*  Not  Salters,  as  is  usually  printed.  A  few  weeks  later 
Lieut  -Col.  Cornelius  Harsen  was  placed  in  command  of  the  llth 
regiment.  This,  after  the.  war,  became  the  famous  Seventh 
regiment  of  to-day  (1889).  See  Col.  Emmons  Clark's  history  of 
the  Seventh  regiment,  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y. 


438  APPENDIX— NOTE  VI. 

Second  company  :  Bariiet  Anderaise,  Captain ; 
Edward  Rockwell,  First  Lieutenant ;  Jeremiah  Van- 
derbilt,  Second  Lieutenant. 

Third  company:  John  Fleming,  Captain  ;  George 
Talcott,  Jr. ,  First  Lieutenant ;  George  W.  Stanton, 
Wm.  Kimbel,  Second  Lieutenants. 

Fourth  company:  John  M.  Bradhurst,  Captain  ; 
Garrett  Forbes,  First  Lieutenant ;  John  Timpson, 
Second  Lieutenant. 

' i  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK.     GENERAL  ORDERS. 
"  HEADQUARTERS,  ALBANY,  June  15,  1812. 

"  The  cavalry  detached  in  conformity  to  general 
orders  of  the  21st  day  of  April  last  will  be  formed 
by  the  major-general  of  that  corps  into  three  squad 
rons,  to  compose  a  regiment,  to  which  the  following 
officers  are  hereby  attached  : 

"  George  D.  Wickham,  of  Goshen,  Orange  coun 
ty,  Lieut. -Col.,  commander. 

1  (  James  Warner,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
Theodore  Ross,  of  Elizabeth,  Essex  county,  Majors. 

"  Henry  Arcularius,  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
Adjutant. 

"  Myrtle  B.  Hitchcock,  of  Kingsbury,  Washing 
ton  county,  Quartermaster. 

"  Walter  Willis,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  Pay 
master. 

"  Philip  Duryee,  of  Still  water,  Saratoga  county, 
Chaplain. 

"  Charles  Little,  of  Avon,  Ontario  county,  Sur 
geon. 

"Henry  White,  of  Yorktown,  Westchester 
county,  Surgeon's  Mate. 


APPENDIX— NOTE   VI.  439 

"  Lieut. -Col.  Wickham  will  cause  muster  rolls  and 
inspection  returns  for  the  said  regiments  forthwith 
to  be  furnished  to  the  adjutant-general. 

"WM.  PAULDING,  JR., 

"Adjt.-Gen." 

Order  dated  June  20,  1812,  organized  the  two 
battalions  of  riflemen  in  the  city  of  New  York,  into 
a  regiment  to  be  known  as  the  first  regiment  of 
riflemen  ;  Major  Francis  McClure  was  assigned  to 
the  command  thereof. 

Order  dated  July  29,  1812,  brevetted  in  the  third 
regiment  of  artillery,  Stephen  Storm,  captain  ;  Abra 
ham  Lott,  first  lieutenant  ;  Samuel  Thornton,  sec 
ond  lieutenant. 

Doctor  Fayette  Cooper  was  brevetted  and 
assigned  surgeon  in  the  detachment  in  service  from 
the  first  brigade  of  artillery. 

Order  dated  Aug.  31, 1812,  brevetted  and  assigned 
Samuel  Woodruff,  surgeon's  mate  of  the  detach 
ment  in  command  of  Lieut. -Col.  Beekman  M.  Van 
Beuren. 

"STATE  OF  NEW  YORK.  GENERAL  ORDERS. 

"HEADQUARTERS,  NEW  YORK,  Sept.  1st,  1812. 

' i  The  Commander-in-chief  feels  the  greatest  satis 
faction  in  announcing  to  the  several  independent 
companies,  destined  for  the  public  service  at  the 
Narrows,  the  high  sense  he  entertains  of  their  pa 
triotic  promptitude  in  obeying  the  call  of  the  coun 
try.  Their  appearance  and  behavior,  during  the 
parade  of  this  day  reflects  the  most  distinguished 
honor  on  the  whole  corps,  and  demand  and  receive 
the  unqualified  praise  and  thanks  of  the  Comman 
der-in-chief. 


440  APPENDIX— NOTE  VI. 

"  The  said  corps  are  formed  into  a  regiment  and 
the  following  organization  of  commissioned  officers 
therefor  is  hereby  adopted  and  confirmed,  and  all 
officers  herein  assigned,  or  brevetted  are  to  be 
obeyed  and  respected  accordingly  in  the  several 
offices  opposite  their  respective  names,  viz  : 

Robert  Swartwout,  Lieut. -Col.  Commandant. 

Alexander  Denniston,  William  Wigton,  Majors. 

James  Williams,  Adjutant. 

John  Merrifield,  Quartermaster. 

John  Gott,  Paymaster. 

Peter  J.  Van  Pelt,  Chaplain. 

Benjamin  DeWitt,  Surgeon. 

John  Barnes,  Surgeon's  Mate. 

Artillery  Companies. 
John  Butterworth,  Captain. 
Purdy  Fowler,  1st  Lieutenant. 
John  Carman,  2d  " 

Jarecl  Stocking,  Captain. 
James  Bogardus,  1st  Lieutenant. 
Daniel  Sands,         2d  " 

Calvin  Walker,  Captain. 
John  L.  Clark,  1st  Lieutenant. 
Lewis  Clark,  2d 
Joseph  Nelson,  Captain. 
Zacharias  S.  Flagler,  1st  Lieutenant. 
Garret  P.  Lansing,  2d  " 

Elias  C.  Werden,  Captain. 
Philo  Doane,  1st  Lieutenant. 
Samuel  Frisby,  2d  " 

Light  Infantry  Companies. 
Isaac  Dubois,  Captain. 
David  G.  Abeel,  Lieutenant. 


APPENDIX— NOTE   VI.  441 

John  Van  Valkenburgh,  Ensign. 

Christian  Kartell,  Captain. 

George  W.  Varian,  Lieutenant. 

John  Ten  Broeck,  Ensign. 

Peter  P.  Lawson,  Captain. 

Robert  Luckey,  Lieutenant. 

Sylvester  Earle,  Ensign. 

Silas  Pierson,  Captain. 

Calvin  Bailey,  Lieutenant. 

John  Williams,  Ensign. 

James  Wilson,  Captain. 

Joseph  H.  Cunningham,  Lieutenant. 

Nicholas  Power,  Jr.,  Ensign. 

Chester  Buckley,  Captain. 

Thomas  Carson,  Lieutenant. 

Levi  Steele,  Ensign. 

Charles  Birdsall,  Captain. 

Silvester  Roe,  Lieutenant. 

Robert  Gardner,  Ensign. 

James  Hamilton,  Captain. 

John  H.  Walsh,  Lieutenant. 

George  Gordon,  Ensign. 

"Lieut. -Col.  Swartwout  will  report  the  state  of 
the  regiment  to  Brigadier- General  Armstrong,  and 
the  said  Lieutenant- Colonel  and  all  the  other  officers 
thereof  are  strictly  charged  and  enjoined  to  exert 
themselves  in  every  respect  to  promote  the  comfort 
and  accommodation,  and  preserve  the  health  of  the 
excellent  troops  under  their  command. 

"  By  order  the  Commr. -in-chief , 
(Signed)  " DANIEL  DUNSCOMB,  JR., 

"Aid  de  Camp,  Pro  Tern." 

Order  dated  Sept.  22,  1812,  organized  an  associa 
tion  of  exempts  at  or  near  Sag  Harbor,  into  a  com- 


442  APPENDIX— NOTE   VI. 

pany  of  artillery.  John  Jermain,  captain;  Elisha 
Prior,  Cornelius  Sleight  and  Thomas  Beebe,  lieuten 
ants.  They  were  ordered  subject  to  be  called  into 
service  by  Gen.  Rose  of  the  33d  brigade  of  infantry. 

In  the  winter  of  1812  and  1813  the  twenty-fourth 
United  States  infantry,  organized  in  1812,  was 
stationed  on  Staten  Island  (see  ante,  p.  140). 

The  principal  officers  were  as  follows  : 

Wm.  P.  Anderson,  Colonel. 

Edmund  P.  Gaines,  Lieutenant -Colonel. 

James  M.  Anderson,  Captain. 

James  H.  Campbell, 

John  A.  Rogers, 

Robert  Desha,  " 

Robert  Butler, 

Alex.  Gray, 

Francis  Armstrong, 

John  Ballinger, 

Andrew  H.  Holmes, 

William  0.  Allen, 

All  the  officers  in  this  regiment  were  from  the 
Southern  States. 


Roll  of  Military  Officers  in  service  in  the  defence  of 
New  York  city  and  harbor  in  the  year  1813. 

Under  the  order  of  the  War  Department  on  April 
27th,  1813,  assigning  the  general  staff  of  the  army 
for  the  nine  military  districts  in  the  United  States, 
New  York  was  the  headquarters  for  the  third  dis 
trict.  The  following  officers  were  assigned: 

George  Izard,  Brigadier-General,  commander. 

Joseph  G.  Swift  (Col.  of  Engineers  and  command 
ant  of  Forts  Hudson  and  Richmond)  Chief  Engineer. 


APPENDIX— NOTE   VI.  443 

John  R.  Fenwick  (Lieut. -Col.  light  artillery),  Ad 
jutant-General. 

Thomas  Christie  (Lieut.  23d  infantry),  Assistant 
Adj  utant- General. 

Nicholas  Gray,  Inspector-General. 

John  C.Tillotson  (Lieut.  2d  light  dragoons),  Assist 
ant  Inspector-General. 

Theophilus  W.  Smith,  Deputy  Quartermaster- 
General. 

William  A.  Barron,  assistant  do. 

John  Beath,  Deputy  Commissary  Ordnance. 

George  Talcott,  Jr.  (in  place  of  Beath,  5th  Au 
gust,  1813)  Lieut.  25th  infantry. 

William  Cutbush  (First  Lieut.)  Engineer  Fort  Co 
lumbus,  N.  Y. 

Aeneas  McKay,  Assistant-Deputy  Commissary 
Ordnance. 

Evart  A.  Bancker,  Judge- Advocate. 

Samuel  Akerly,  Hospital  Surgeon,  Fort  Columbus. 

William  M.  Ross,  Hospital  Surgeon. 

Alex.  Wolcott,  Garrison  Surgeon's  Mate,  Fort 
Columbus. 

Peter  J.  Van  Pelt,  Chaplain. 

Samuel  H.  Eakin,  District  Paymaster. 

Samuel  Russell,  Deputy  Commissary  of  Pur 
chases. 

John  Fellows,  Military  Storekeeper,  New  York. 

Jonathan  Snowden,  "  West  Point. 

H.  P.  Dearing,  "  Sag  Harbor. 

326?  U.  S.  Infantry,  organized  1813. 

S.  E.  Fotterall,  Colonel. 
S.  B.  Davis,  Lieut. -Colonel. 
Geo.  H.  Hunter,  Major. 


444:  APPENDIX-NOTE    VI. 

G.  F.  Goodman,  Captain. 
William  Smith, 
Samuel  Borden,        •" 
Thomas  Town,          " 
JohnSteele,  Jr.,        " 
J.  J.  Robinson, 
Jonathan  B.  Smith,  " 
Horatio  Davis,  " 

*  *  *  -X-  ~;     *  -K 

(Names  of  other  officers  omitted.) 

41  st  U.  S.  Infantry,  organized  1813. 

Commissioned. 

Colonel,  Eobert  Bogardus,         .         .          July  29. 
Lieut. -Colonel,  J.  W.  Livingston,         .          " 
Major,  Darby  Noon,          .         .         .  Aug.  1. 

Jas.  D.  Wallace,       . 
Captain,  Gilbert  Seaman, 

Alex.  Hamilton,  . 

Alpheus  Sherman, 

Samuel  B.  Romaine,  .  " 

Samuel  Berrian,        .         .         .          " 
James  Campbell, 

"        W.  S.  Radcliff,       .          .         .  "3. 

Chas.  Humphrey,          .         . '  "7. 

John  R.  Scott,  .         .  Sept.  30. 

"        Francis  Allyii,        ...  " 

First  Lieut.,  Thomas  Barker,  .  Aug.  1. 

M.  M.  Quackenbos, 

"  John  Ingersoll,     .         .         .         "7. 

James  McCullen,      .         . 
Wm.  London,      .  .          "    9. 

John  L.  Clark,          .         .      Sept.  30. 
"  J.  L.  Bogardus,     .  " 

"  J.  M.  Schermerhorn,  " 


APPENDIX— NOTE  VI.  445 

Commissioned. 

f    Second  Lieut.,  Jud.  Hammond,        .  Sept.  30. 
"              T.  E.  Beekman,     . 

"               Alex.  Clinton,            .  .       " 
Daniel  Wishart,  . 
Wm.  Seaman, 
JohnTabelee,      . 

George  Hamilton,    .  .         " 

John  H.  Sims,  .     " 

Henry  Brown,         .  .          " 
"               Luther  Hand,     .         .         .     " 

Third  Lieut.,  Solomon  Sutherland,  .      Aug.  1. 

Ensigns,  George  West,             .         .  .      .         "  6. 

Jeremiah  Smith,   .        .  .      Sept.  30. 

John  Webb,  Jr,        .        .  .      " 

Lawrence  Eigail,          .  .           " 

William  Hammell,           .  .        " 
Isaac  Miller,           ... 

"          Asher  Corles,    .         .  .        u 

George  Maxwell,          .  .             " 
John  C.  Hart, 

Surgeon,  John  Neilson,      .         .  .              " 

Surgeon's  Mate,  Fayette  Cooper,  .         " 

"        Henry  White,  .        .     " 

4.2d  U.  S.  Infantry,  organized  1813. 

Commissioned. 

Colonel,  Wm.  N.  Irvine,  .  .  .  .  Aug.  4=. 

Lieut. -Colonel,  James  G.  Forbes,  .  .  "  1. 

Major,  Tunis  Eiker, "  1. 

Captain,  Thos.  Stockton,  .  .  .  Sept.  20. 

Geo.  W.  Barker,         .    '  .          Jan.  10. 

E.  S.  Mendenhall,          .  .       Aug.  1. 

W.G.Oliver, 

Thos.  Hanson,     .         .  .              "    4. 


446  APPENDIX-NOTE   VI. 

Commissioned. 

Captain,   Edm.  B.  Duvall,        .         .  .    Aug.  4. 

JohnJenkin,                 .  "    7. 

Armstrong  Irvine,    .         .  .      Oct.  1  . 
JohnBiddle,         ... 


" 


((  it 

a  ic 


(Names  of  other  officers  omitted.) 

United  States  Volunteers  from  New    York,  Second 
Regiment* 

Commissioned. 

Colonel,  Samuel  Hawkins,        .  Feb.  15,  1813. 

Lieut.  -Colonel,  Gilbert  Ketcham,  . 
Major,  W.  S.  Tallmadge,  . 

Captain,  Edmund  G.  Perlee,  .    Nov.  5,  1812. 

"         J.  D.  Wadsworth,      •  •     " 
"         Thos.  Bruyn, 

JohnS.    Suffern,  .     " 
"         David  Crawford, 

"         John  McCawley,       .  •      " 

John  Miller,          .         .  Dec.  1,      " 

"         Joseph  Delafield,      .  .       « 

"         Gabriel  Y.  Denton,      .  Jan.  21,  1813. 

"         Eobert  Gourlay,  Jr.,  Feb.  1, 

First  Lieut.,  Sanford  Allyn,         .  Nov.  5,  1812. 

"             Moses  Burnet,      .  "      " 

Kichmond  Eldred,     .  ":  '   " 

Z.  Schoomaker,  .    Dec.  9,       " 

J.  A.  Eapalje,          .  u   27,     " 
Job  Wright, 

Joseph  De  La  Montanya,  Jan.  1,  1813. 

R.W.  Nelson,  "    16,    " 

James  Darrow,         .  Feb.  2,     " 

*  For  First  regiment  of  New  York  volunteers,  see  ante,    p. 
110  note,  and  post  p.  448. 


APPENDIX—NOTE   VI.  447 

Commissioned. 

First  Lieut.,  E.  B.  Baldwin,    .        .     Feb.  9,  1813. 
"  J.  L.  Bleecker,        .  "  10,     " 

"  A.  D.  Willson,  .    Apl.  16,     " 

Second  Lieut.,  John  Bailey,         .        Nov.  5,  1812. 

Platt  Ketcham,        .      "    17,     " 
"  Jacob  Montross,    .      Dec.  25,     u 

"  G.  S.  Caldwell,        .  Jan.    4,  1813. 

"  John  Peters,         .  "    10,     " 

"  Morris  Janson,         .       a    11,     " 

Epenitus  Wheeler,     Feb.  1,      " 
Geo.  S.  Allison,        .     "     10,    " 
"  Jesse  Barlow,       .          "     16,     " 

"  John  Wilson,  .   Apl.  16,     " 

Third  Lieut.,  James  Archer,     .  July  1,  1813. 

Surgeon,  Stephen  Kapalje,        .        Nov.  24,  1812. 
Surgeon's  Mate,  Josiah  Torrey,     .    Dec.  30,  1812. 
Adjutant,  Platt  Ketcham. 
Quartermaster,  Joseph  De  La  Montanya. 
Paymaster,  Z.  Schoonmaker. 


United   States   Volunteers  from  New  York,   Third 
Regiment. 

Commissioned. 

Lieut. -Colonel,  Alex.  Denniston,          Feb.  1,  1813. 

Captain,  Gouverneur  S.  Bibby,     .       Dec.  8,  1812. 
"        Christian  Kartell,       .        .     "  28,     " 
Geo.  K.  McKay,  .     Jan.    9,  1813. 

Chas.  Hughes,  .  \  "  16,  " 
Jonathan  Gedney,  .  "  18,  " 
John  Hatfield,  jm  .  "  23,  " 
Benj.  Wood,  .  .  "  30,  u 

Thos.  Sherwood,  .  .  "  31,  (( 
Isaac  Little,  .  Feb.  1,  " 


448  APPENDIX— NOTE   VI. 


Commissioned. 

First  Lieut.,  Thos.  Earle, 

Aug.  30,  1812. 

"              Thos.  Darling    .      . 

Dec.  31,     " 

Wm.  Perren, 

Jan.    1,     " 

"              Edwin  Baldwin,  .     . 

"      2,     " 

Stephen  Baxter, 

"      9,      " 

James  Kerr, 

.      "    25,      " 

Wm.  Walsh, 

"    28,      " 

Robert  P.  Ross,  . 

.      "    31,      " 

Ephraim  Clark, 

M'ch  1,     " 

Second  Lieut.,  Ebenezer  Cole, 

Dec.  23,  1812. 

"              Peter  Holmes,  . 

.  Jan.  1,  1813. 

Allen  Reynolds,     . 

"    20,     " 

"             Isaac  Percy, 

.     "    25,     " 

Eras.  H.  Weed,     . 

"    28,      " 

Caleb  Crane,     . 

.      "    30,      " 

Matthew  D.  Coe,  . 

"   31,      " 

Chas.  F.  Butler, 

M'ch  1,     " 

Third  Lieut.,  Wm.  Buttre, 

Feb.  1,  1813. 

Daniel  L.  Scott,  . 

.      "    28,   .  " 

N.  G.  Carnier, 

Aug.  15,     " 

Surgeon,  Robert  C.  Hunter,     . 

.  Jan.  31,     " 

Surgeon's  Mate,  Elias  C.  Badeau, 

Feb.  9,     " 

Adjutant,  Allen  Reynolds. 

Paymaster,  Stephen  Baxter. 

Principal   Officers  in  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  New 
York  State  Artillery,  in  September,  1813  :  * 

Lieut. -Col.,  Cornelius  Harsen,  commander. 
Thomas  R.  Mercein,  First  Major. 
George  Hodgson,  Second  Major. 


*  Properly  this  was  the  First  Regiment  of  New  York  Volun 
teers.     See  ante,  p.  110,  note. 


APPENDIX— NOTE   VI. 


449 


Andrew  Bremner,    Captain. 

Edward  Rockwell,         " 

Aaron  For  man, 

Barnett  Anderaise,         " 

George  Black,  u 

George  N.  Stanton,        " 

James  Wilkie,  " 

Jeremiah  Vanderbilt,     " 

W.  Bradhurst, 

George  W.  Brown,  First  Lieut. 

Joseph  Houston, 

Wm.  Kimbell, 

Joseph  Coles,  " 

John  Timpson, 

Charles  Guion,  " 

James  Benedict,  " 

Jonas  Humbert,  Jr.,        " 

Christian  Wolfe, 

(Names  of  other  officers  in  this  regiment  were  not 
ascertained. ) 

The  rolls  of  militia  officers  from  the  State  of  New 
Jersey  in  service  in  and  about  the  defence  of  New 
York  city  and  harbor  for  the  years  1812  and  1813 
are  not  yet  all  accessible.  The  same  is  true  of  some 
of  the  New  York  State  militia  rolls. 

The  other  militia  orders  and  regulations  during 
1813,  not  already  mentioned,  were  made  in  the 
month  of  December  and  only  affected  the  campaign 
of  1814.  They  will  be  mentioned  in  that  connec 
tion  in  Volume  II. 


INDEX  TO  NAMES. 
(TEMPORARY.) 


ABEEL,  David  G. ,  440 
Adee,  William,  19 
Akerly,  Samuel,  443 
Allen,  William,  O.,  442 
Allison,  George  S.,  447 
Allyn,  Francis,  444 
San  ford,  446 
Alsop,  Thomas,  434 
Archer,  James,  447 
Arcularius,  Henry,  438 
Armstrong,  Francis,  442 

Irvine,  446 
Armstrong,  Gen.  John,   2,  110, 

114,    116,   117,   118,   135,  136, 

138,   140,   155,  159,    167,    178, 

235,  441 

Astor,  John  Jacob,  19,  185,  347 
Ashworth,  Charles  S.,  202 
Andre,  Major  John,  268 
Andrus,    Major  Isaac,   110,  116, 

134 

Anderson,  Andrew,  225,  229,  431 
James  M.,  442 
William  P.,  442 
Agnew,  John,  30 
Allen,  Lieut.,  162 
Allison,  Archibald,  82 
Anthon,  John,  230,  231,  232,  433 
Arden,  Francis,  312 
Abrahams,  Col.  James,  213 
Anderaise,    Capt.   Barnett,    109, 

350,  437,  449 
Adams,  Samuel,  20 
Addoms,  Jonas,  22,  261 
Ackerly,  Jeremiah,  Jr.,  350 
Ainslow,  Robert,  348 
Allen,  Freeman,  348 
Stephen,  239 
Anderson,  Elbert,  185 
Andrews,  Mr. ,  349 
Austin  &  Andrews,  349 
Avery,  Mr.,  350 


BADEAU,  Elias  C.,  448 
Bailey,  Colvin,  441 

"       Benjamin,  29,  349 
"      John,  447 
"      Wm.,  29,  30 
Bakewell,  William,  435 
Baldwin,  Mr.,  272 
"        C.,  339 

Edwin,  448 
E.  B.,  447 

Ballinger,  John,  442 
Bancker,  Evirt  A.,  443 
Barnes,  John,  440 
Barnwall,  William,  434 
Barlow,  Jesse,  447 
Bainbridge,  Com.  William,  204, 

205,   208,   252,  261,   270,   363, 

371,  373,  373 
Barron,  Mr.,  272 
Barrow,  William  A.,  443 
Baxter,  Stephen,  448 
Bayard,  William,  150,  183 
Barclay  T.,  British  consul,    26, 

272,  275,  276 
Barborieu,  Capt.,  86 
Bedois,  Capt.  J.,  123 
Barnard,  Capt.  Tim.,  123 
Brown,  Capt.  B.,  123 
Beaufon,  Capt.,  123 
Beath,  John,  443 
Beebe,  Thomas,  442 
Beekman,  T.  E.t  445 
Benedict,  James,  437,  449 
Berrian,  Samuel,  444 

Rev.  William,  46 
Bullus,  Dr.  John,  348,  379 

"       Dr.  Robert  S.,  338,   339 

379 

Bernard,  364 
Becanon,  135 
Bogert,  John  G. ,  29,  275 
Bogart,  Capt.  J.  O.,  87 


11 


INDEX. 


Beresford,  Com.,  217,  266 
Bell,  Mr.  272 

"     Samuel,  19 

Bibby,  Gouverneur  S.,  434,  447 
Biddle,  John,  446 
Birdsall,  Charles,  441 
Bisset,  James  D.,  432 
Borden,  Samuel,  444 
BreniDer,  Andrew,  449 
Bradhurst  &  Field,  350 

John  M.,  438 

W.,  449 

Brower,  John,  433 
Bruyn,  Thomas,  446 
Bryce,  William,  436 
Black,  George,  449 
Bleecker,  John,  95,  103,  109,  112, 

113,  226 
Bleecker,  Anthony,  112,  190 

Leonard,  22,  349,   350 

A.  L.,  184 
"        John,  435 

J.  L.,447 

Bishop,  Abraham,  350 
Blackwell,  Joseph,  185 
Bogart,  J.  H.,  238 
Bool,  Henry  W.,  350 
Boorman  &  Johnston,  349 
Bradish,  Mrs.,  184 
Brasher,  Philips,  349 
Bremner,  Ayer,  348 
Bruce,  Mrs.  J.,  184 
Brune,  Fred.,  351 
Burr,  Joseph,  350 
Byers,  James,  185 
Bloodgood,  Moses,  439 
"  Abraham,  390 

Nathaniel,  335 
Capt.,  435 
Baker,  John,  373 
Barnwall,  George,  30 
Backus,  Major.  107 
Butler,  Thos.  G.,  372 
Bell,  Abraham,  30 
Bethune,  Divie,  30 
Bunn,  W.  H.,  246 
Biddle,  Capt.,  218 
Burdett,  Stephen,  27 
Burling,  E. ,  27 
Burritt,  Samuel,  27 
Butler.  Amos,  19 
Benson,   Judge  Egbert,  55,  190, 
223,  235,  372,  409 


Bicker,  Walter,  22,  261 
Bergh,  Christian,  125 

Henry,  125,  126 
Bayard,  William,  131,  148 
Burrall,  Jonathan,  22,  261 
Boerum,   Martin,    139,  226,  229, 

336 
Burbeck,    Col.    Henry,   97,  100, 

141,  167 

Brearley,  Col.  David,  100,  108 
Bogardus,  James,  440 

Col.  Robert,  213,  225, 

229,   230,    232,   234,  342,  431, 

444 

Bogardus,  J.  L.,  444, 
Boyd,  Gen.  J.  P.,  119 
Bloomfield,  Gen.  Joseph,  126, 

22,  97,    98,   99,  100,  108,    109, 

110 
Brackett,   Joseph  W.,  155,  204, 

361,  424,  425 
Brin  kerb  off,    George,    148,    150, 

231,  372 

Bingham,  John,  339,  374 
Barker,  Jacob,  20,  21,    347,  348, 

352 
Barker,  Geo.  W.,  445 

Thos.,  444 

Bool,  Henry  W.,  216 
Burke,  Mrs.,  364,  380 
Burrill,  Ebenezer,  20 
Burr,  Aaron,  15,  22,  125 
Buckmaster,     George,    7,    145, 

361,   365,  370,  371,  374,  423  to 

426 
Broome,  John  L.,    15,  339,  348, 

351,  374 

Brown,  George,  W.,  449 
Adam,  122,  125 
Henry,  445 
Noah,  122, 125, 126, 185, 

424,  425 
Bowne,  Walter,  339,  374 

"       Andrew,  434 
Bulkley,  Ralph,  20 
Birdsley,  Capt.  Chester,  114,441 
Birdsall,  Capt.,  114 
Butterworth,  Capt.,  114 
Burton,  Phillip  S.  L.,  351 
Burtis,  Arthur,  424,  425 
Burges,  Matthias,  Jr.,  434 
Burnett,  Moses,  446 
Butterworth,  John,  440 


INDEX. 


Ill 


Butter,  Charles  F.,  448 

John,  433 
"        Robert,  442 
Buttre,  William,  448 

CALDWELL,  G.  S.,  447 
Campbell,  James,  444 

"         James  H.,  44 
Carnier,  N.  G.,  448 
Carman,  John,  440 
Carson,  Thomas,  441 
Clark,  Charles,  433 

Col.  Emmons,  437 

Ephraim,  448 

John  L.,  440,  444 

John  X.,  432 

Lewis,  440 
Cook,  Dr.,  339 
Cruger,  Henry,  Jr.,  335 
Charnock,  269 
Cooper,  Francis,  148,  150 
Mr.,  363,  371 
Samuel,  22,  183,  261 
Connelly,  Capt.  John  M.,  97 
Cozzens,  Issacher,  239,  241 
Case,  Major  Benj.,  284,  285,  287 
Chauncey,  Com.  Isaac,  112,  113, 

127,  132,  252,  270 
Clason,  Isaac,  20,  349 
Crookes,  John,  20 
Cod  wise,  Christopher,  22 
Clinton,  Alex.,  445 
Clinton,  De  Witt,  25,  64,  93,  149, 
150,    151,    154,  186,    187,    189, 
190,  204,  370,  372,  373,  422 
Cox,  Ed  win  K,  382,  306 
Calhoun,  John  C.,   17 
Carpenter,  Gen.  Thomas,  7,  87, 

424,  425,  432,  433 
Conklin,  John,  26 
Curtis,  Abner,  26, 
Craig,  Samuel,  30 

"      William,  30,  171 
Cranston,  Alex.,  30 
Christen,  George,  61, 
Clarkson,  Matthew,  22,  61,  131 
Coe,  Matthew  D.,  448 
Coffin,  John,  432 
Conover,  S.,  435 
Cooper,  Dr.  Fayette,  445 
Corles,  Ash  or,  445 
Cunningham,  Joseph  H.,  441 
"  Matthew,  435, 


Cunningham,  Henry,  22 

Richard,  361,  423 
Cutbush,  William,  443 
Curtenius,  Col.    Peter,   64,  226, 

112,    140,   186,   236,   244,  336, 

435,  437 

Crocker,  D.  W.,  208,  258 
Cassin,  Com.,  251 
Champlin,  John  T.,  148,  150 
Chapman,  Capt.  G.  W.,  331,  333, 

334 

Cumming,  George,  27 
Cockburn,  Admiral   Sir  George, 

274 

Corvin,  James,  245 
Capel,  Capt.  Thomas  B.,  282 
Campbell,  Capt.,  339 
Corney,  Michael,  265 
Claude,  Mrs.,  268 
Cole,  Ebenezer,  448 
Coles,  John  B.,  31, 183,  372,  373 

"      Isaac  H.,  434 

"      Joseph,  437,  449 

"       Gen.  Nathaniel,  90,  109 
Coif  ax,  Gen.  William,  343 
Crolius,  Clarkson,  104,  226,  239, 

434 

Christie,  John,  98,  100 
Thomas,  443 
Clay,  Henry,  164 
Coleman,  Wm.,  214 
Conor,  Col.,  225 
Champlin,    Guy    R.,    156,   210, 

211 

Cannon,  Mott,  424 
Campen,  Capt.  J.,  123 
Cropsey,  Capt.  Jasper.  123 
Clendening,  John,  349 
Colvill  &  Son,  348 
Costar,  Henry,  350 

"'       John  G.,  350 
Courtier,  Elizabeth  V.,  184 
Chesbrougii,  Robert,  348 
Christie,  Mr.,  261 
Church,  261 
Crary,  Peter,  Jr.,  349 
Crosby,  261 
Crimp,  349 
Crane,  A.  T.,  435 

"       Caleb,  448    , 

"       Capt.,  3 
Crawford,  David,  446 
Cromwell,  John  G.,  435 


IV 


INDEX. 


DAVIS,  Matthew  L.,  124 

"      Horatio,  444 

"      James,  432 

"      S.  B.,  443 
Darling,  Thomas,  448 
Darrow,  James,  447 
Dealing,  H.  P. ,  443 
Delamontagnie,       Col.      Jacob, 

226,  431 
De  La  Montanya,  Joseph,  446, 

447 

Delafield,  Joseph,  433,  446 
Denton,  Joseph  Y.,  446 
Desha,  Robert,  442 
Dey,  John  Ogden,  433 
Dacres,  Capt.,  127,  128 
Dunham,  David,  146,  148 
De  Voe,  Thos.,  202 
Denyse,  178 
Darley,  Mr.,  164,  268,  269 

"       Mrs.,  268 
Duane,  Gen.  Wm.,  202 
Davenport,  John,  305 

Lawrence,  433 
Dally,  Abraham,  339 
Delamater,  Capt.  John,  22 
De  Witt,  Simeon,  43 

"       Benjamin,  440 
Dickie,  Robert,  30 
Dusenbury,  John  S.,  26 
Delacroix,  Joseph,  52 
Dickenson, Charles,  361, 423,  424, 

425 

Duryea,  Capt.,  87 
Ditmis,  John,  102,  431 
Dobson,  Capt.,  122 
Dillon,  Capt.  Gregory,  119,  434 
Dunscomb,  Capt.  Daniel  E.,  92, 

244 
Dunscomb,  Daniel,  Jr.,  441 

Capt.  Edward,  23 
Dodge,  Col.  Daniel,  225,  229 
Drake,  John,  7,  30,  350,  423,  425 

Jacob,  30,  350 
Denniston,  Col.  Alex.,  114,  168, 

169,  170,  171,    213,    342,   440, 

447 

Deniston,  261 
Dearborn,  Gen.  Henry,  324,  325, 

326,  328,  330,   331,   335,  339, 

340,   341,    365,  369,  370,   372, 

373 


Decatur,  Com.  Stephen,  3,  133, 
143  to  156,  158,  162,  164,  208, 
209,  217,  218,  252,  261,  370, 
273,  285,  286 

Denning,  Caroline  Augusta,  338 

Delaplaine,  John  F.,  20,  349 

Depeyster,  John,  20 

Davidson,  James,  22 

Duboise,  Capt.  Isaac,  114,  440 

Douglass,  Isaac,  361,  423,  426 

Doane,  Philo,  440 

Dederic,  Joseph,  349 

Delapierre,  Daniel,  351 

De  Pau,  Francis,  351 

De  Pearce,  Earl,  351 

De  Peyster,  Fred.,  350 

De  Rhan,  H.  C.,  850 

Dobson,  Capt.  W.  B.,  123 

Dodge,  Henry  S.,  261 

Daniel,  431 
"  Robert,  239 
"  Sewell,  432 

Douglass,  John  H.,  350 

Drake,  Oliver,  239 
"       Charles,  433 

Dunham,  David,  150,  350 

Dunlap,  James  &  W.,  349 

Duffie,  Cornelius  R. ,  434 

Duryee,  Philip,  438 

Duvall,  Edmund  B.,  446 

EVKIN,  Samuel  H.,  443 
Earle,  Sylvester,  441 
"       Thomas,  448 
Eggleston,  Charles,  432 
Eldred,  Richmond,  446 
Emmett,  Lieut.  Robert,  231 
Eustis,  Wm.,  97,  98 
Elliot,  Capt.  J.  D.,  368 
Edwards,  Ogden,  125 

Sir  Peter,  398 
Eckford,  Henry,  126 
Elting,  John,  335 
Ellis,  Miss,  268 
Erving,  John,  8 

Henry,  183 

Eliner,  Gen.  Ebeuezer,  344 
Evans,  Capt.  Samuel,  310 
Edgar,  William,  349 

Jr.,  20 

Ellison,  Henrietta,  330 
"        Catharine,  338 
Emily,  338 


INDEX. 


Embury,  Peter,  238 
Erwin,  Richard,  435 

FEKGUSON,   John,  27,  339,  367, 

384,  390 

Fox,  Peter  C.,  102 
Flack,  John,  30 
Fash,  Capt.,  127 
Ferrers,  John,  31 
Farrington,  John,  26 
Ford,  Mr.,  8 

Forster,  British  Minister,  26 
Fairlie,  Major  James,  23,  64,  186, 

261,  374 

Fleet,  Col.  Simon,  140,  435,  437 
Francis,  Dr.  John  W.,  190 
Farmar,  Thomas,  124,    155,  211, 

374,  384 

Fevier,  Peter,  350 
Flack,  James  C.,  349 
Few,  William,  425 
Fenwick,  John  R,  443 
Flagler,  Zacharias  8.,  440 
Fleming,  John,  438 
Floyd,  James,  432 
Formaii ,  Aaron,  437,  449 
Fotterall,  Stephen  E.,  443 
Fowler,  Purdy,  440 
French,  Joseph,  437 
Frisby,  Samuel,  440 
Field,  350 
Fish,  Whitehead,  352 

"      Col.  Nicholas,   7,    23,   61, 

145,   148,    150,    154,220,    361, 

423  to  426 

Fisher,  Leonard,  273 
Fay,  Joseph  D.,  230,  231,  232 
Fellows,  John,  173,  443 
Fowler,  Robert  Ludlow,  306,  338 
"        Capt.  John,  283 

Theodoras,  23,  261,  349 
Fotterall,  Col.  S.  E.,  213,  343 
Fink,  Lieut.,  342 
Forbes,  Col.  J.  G.,  326,  342,  445 
Garrett,  438 

"     Major  John  W.,   179,  437 
Ferris,  Capt.,  87 

O.,  123 
Foster,  Andrew,  19 

GAINES,  Edmund  P.,  442 
Garnage,  John,  432 
Garretson,  John,  431 


Garretson  Wilhelmus,  433 
Gedney,  Jonathan,  447 
Glover,  Erastus,  433 
Gilbert,  Thomas  W.,  435 
Goodman,  O.  F.,  444 
Gott,  John,  440 
Gordon,  George,  441 
Grieve,  Walter,  437 
German,  Obadiah,  223,  235 
Grant,  John,  349,  350 

R.,  Jr.,  340 
Griswold,  Geo.,148, 150 
Gray,  Robert,  286 

"     Gen.  Nicholas,  325,443 

"      Alexander,  442 
Gardner,  C.  K.,  295 

"        Robert,  441 
Graham,  John,  23,  335 
Charles,  337 
Capt.,  280,  231 
Giles,   Gen.  Aquila,  23,  90,  107, 

261 

Giles,  James.  23 
Gansevoort,  Gen.  Peter,  175 
Gales,  Mr.,  272 
Grinnell,  19 
Gibbs,  Israel,  19 
Groshon,  John  P.,  373 
Gray,  William,  20 
Graves,  J.  Boonen,  30 
Grade,  Archibald,  31,  131 
Gillespie,  30 
Gebbard,  Fred.,  30 
Garniss,  Capt.,  230.  231 
Gales,  Peter  W.,  246,  434 

"      John  W.,  19 
Green,  Sergt.  Nathaniel,  262 
Gourley,  Capt.  Robert,  Jr.,  262, 

446 

Gardiner,  John  Lyon,  288 
Geddes,  Lieut.,  281 
Giraud,  Fred'k,  Jr.,  20 

Jacob  P.,  19 
Greaton,  John  W.,  23 
Gibson,  150 
Gallagher,  348 
Gilchrist,  R.,  184 
Guion,  Charles,  449 

HAIGHT,  Daniel,  433 
Hall,  Mr.,  272 
Hamilton,  Alex.,  444 
George,  445 


VI 


INDEX. 


Hamilton,  James,  441 

Hammell,  William,  445 

Hand,  Luther,  445 

Hanson,  Thomas,  445 

Hart,  John  C.,  445 

Hattield,  John,  447 

Hardy,    Com.,  Sir  Thomas  M., 

273,    274,    275,    280,  281,  282, 

283,  284,   287,    290,  296,   392, 

393,  404 
Harrison,    Maj.-Gen.    Wm.    II., 

270,    320,   321,    359,    360,361, 

363,    364,  365,  366,    369,  370, 

371,  377 
Harsen,    Lieut.-Col.    Cornelius, 

79,  109,  140,  141,  142,  208,  226, 

336,  337,  340,437,  448 
Harsin,  George,  Jr.,  241,  243 
House,    Col.    James,    220,    262, 

324,  342 
Hoffman,    Josiah    Ogden,    131, 

155,  318,  423 
Havens,  Gabriel,  29,  348 
"        Philetus,  29 

Rensselaer,     124,     339, 

349 

Hal  lot,  Abraham  S.,  20 
Herring,  Elbert,  20 
Hardenbrook,  William  A.,   361, 

423  to  425 

Holden,  Abel,  23,  261 
Button,  Christopher,  23 
Hicks,  Capt.  C.,  123 
"      John  M.,  350,  351 
"      Jacob  M..  350,351 
"      William  S.,  434 
Holly,  W.,  350 
Howe,  261 
Howard,  Henry,  238 
Howland,  John,  348 
Hunting,  Mahitable,  350 
Huntington,  Benj.  348,  351 
Herttell,  Thomas,  27 
Howard,  Capt.  John,  295 
Hazard,  Capt.,  122 
Holt,  Mr.,  290 
Hays,  Jacob,  26 
Hawkins,  Col.  Samuel,  168,  169, 

171,    172,    177,    213,  262,  339, 

342,  446 

Hone,  John,  20,  131,  185 
Hone,  Phillip,  372 
Hyslop,  Robert,  230,  231 


Hilson,  268 
Hathaway,  263 
Horton,  269 
Hosack,  David,  190 

William,  335 
Heyer,  Isaac,  335 
Hartell,     Capt.     Christian,    115, 

433,  441,  447 

Hedden,  Josiah,  332,  361,  423 
Hegeman,  339 
Haff,  John  R.,  238,  339,  379 
Hedges,  Lieut.,  284,  285 
Hall,  Orderly  Sergt.,  334 
Hammond,  Abijah,  23,  61 
"  Abraham,  433 

Jud,  231,  445 

Horn,  Capt.  Stephen.  87,  435 
Hendricksou.  Col.,  431 
Hitchcock,  Myrtle  B.,  438 
Hobby,  David  Jr.,  435 
Hodgson,  Capt.  George,  435,  448 
Holmes,  Andrew  H.,  442 

Peter,  448 

Horeston,  Joseph,  449 
Hughes,  Charles,  433,  447 
Humphrey,  Charles,  444 
Humbert.  Joseph,  Jr.,  449 
Hunter,  John,  183 

George  H.,  443 
Dr.  Robert  C.,  448 
Capt.  W.  T.,  87,  435 
"  "      C.  W.,  99 

Hubert,  Geo.  Redmond,  393 
Hulett,  Prof.,  380 
How,  Rev.  Thos.  Y.,  312,  313 
Halleck,  Fitz-Green,  352 
Holman,  Mr.,  364 

"        Miss.,  364 
Henderson,  Wm.,  146,  148,   150, 

372,  373 
Hampton,  Gen.  Wade,  365,   369, 

370 

Holland,  151,  209.  321,  365,  375 
Herbert,  Capt.  Joseph,  86 
Hawley,  Capt.  Win.,  228  to  231, 

234 

Hawes,  Peter,  7,  423,  425 
Hull,  Gen.,  2 
Hull,  Capt.  Isaac,  128,  131,  132, 

133,  143,  145  to  155,   158,   160 

to  164,  208,  209,  252,  270 
Howland  &  Grinnell,  19 
Heyer,  Isaac,  19 


INDEX. 


Vll 


Hartman,  Lewis,  19,  378 
Haight,  Gilbert,  19 
Hazard,  Capt.  John,  123 
Hyslop,  Robert,  434 

INGERSOLL,  Capt.  Josiab,  123 

Jobn,  444 

Irving  &  Smith,  349,  350 
Ireland,  W.  H.,  350 
Irving,  P.  &  E.  &  Co.,  349 
Irvine,  Col.  Wm.  N.,  345 
Irving,  William,  148,    150,  339, 

374,  378 

Irving,  John  T. ,  374 
Izard,    Gen.    George,    181,    190, 

214,  219.  442 
Izard,  John,  349,  351 

JACKSON,  Amasa,  19 
Janson,  Morris,  447 
Jennings,  Nathaniel  F.,  434 
Jermain,  Capt.  John,  87,  442 
Jenkins,  Thomas,  29,  124,  211, 

884 
Jenkins,  Frederick,  148, 150,  339, 

374 
Jenkins,  John,  446 

"         Lemuel,  432 
Jay,  Gov.  John,  337 

•<     Peter  A.,  190,  335 
Jerome,  Mr.,  291 
Johnson,  William,  190,  337 
Jarvis,  J.  W.,  149,  371,  377 
Jackson,  Joseph,  134 

Gen.  Jacob  S.,  86,   94, 

431 

Jones,  Samuel,  55,  337,  423,  425 
Jr.,  7,  146,    231, 

425 
Jones,  William,  294 

"       Joshua,  19 

"       Capt.    Jacob,    138,    139, 

143,  145  to  148, 150  to  155,  158, 

159,  162,  164,  208,  209,    217, 

218,  252,  261,  270 
Jones,  Isaac,  351 

"        Mr.,  268 
Johnson,    Col.    Jeremiah,     102, 

431 

Johnson,  Capt.,  123 
Johnston,  349 

KANE,  John,  19 


Kelly  &  Morrison,  349 
Kelso,  James,  349 

"      &  Crimp,  349 
Keenan,  Bernard,  349 
Kinsey,  Mrs.,  184 
Ketcham,  Gilbert,  446 

Platt,  447 

Kimbell,  William,  438,  449 
King,   Elisha  W.,   7,    145,  207, 

223,  308,  319,  320,  360,  361,  423 

to  425 
King,  Rufus,  55,  223,  235 

"     Charles,  97,  434 

"    Capt.  T.,  123 

"    Mrs.,  183 
Keeler,  Lieut.,  334 
Kelly,  Robert,  30 
Knox,  Gen.  Henry,  30,  60 
Kearney,  Lieut.,  112 
Kingsland,  Capt.,  244 
Kerr,  James,  448 

LAMETTI,  Joseph,  435 

Lansing,  Garret  P.,  440 

Lawson,  Peter  P.,  441 

Lefferts,  Leffert,  19 

John,  223,  409,  315 

Leaycraft,  William,  23,  261 

Lent,  Ensign,  433 

L'Hommedieu,  T.,  436 

Little,  Charles,  438 
"       Isaac,  447 

Lippincott,  Wm.  L.,  435 

Lott,  Abraham,  439 

Loudon,  William,  444 

Lovett,  William,  19 

"      James,  20,  348,  351 

Lawson,  Capt.,  114 

Lawrence,  Capt.  James,  3,  4, 
205,  206,  207,  208,  209,  210, 
252,  254,  259,  261,  268,  270, 
304,  305,  306,  307,  308,  309, 
310,  311,  313,  315,  317,  377, 
382 

Lawrence,  Jonathan,  349,  424 
John  T.,  20,  261 
Augustine  H.,  7,  143, 
145,    150,   207,   308,  348,  372, 
373,  423,  424,  425 

Lawrence,  John  L.,  339,  374,  384 
Isaac,  350 
&  Van  Beuren,  349 

Larue,  Louis,  349 


Vlll 


INDEX. 


Lonard,  James  T.,  184,  185 
Lebreton,  Philip  S.,  350 
Lefferty,  John,  350 
Lenox,  Robert,  185 
Le  Roy,  Herman,  184 
Loring,  Mrs.,  184 
Lorillard,  Joseph,  425 
Lossing,  Benson  J.,  313,  366 
Lewis,    Gen.    Morgan,    23,    203, 

270,  337 
Livingston,  Brockholst,  23,  261, 

348,  365,  372 
Livingston,  J.  W. ,  444 
Lent,  James  W.,315 
Laight,    Col.    Edward   W.,    96, 

226,  335,  431 
Lewis,    Com.  Jacob,    122,    123, 

132,  156,  166,    174,    175,   179, 

266,  301,  321,    325,    332,    336, 

342,  344 

Lewis,  Zachariah,  131,  373 
Lamb,  Col.,  105 
La  Fayette,  Gen.,  105 
Leggett,  Abraham,  23 
Lee,  Wm.,  397 
Loomis,  Lebbeus.  23,  261 

Luther,  350 
Lyon,  Capt.,  87 
Lloyd,  Capt.  R.,  382 
Laurie,  30 
Lynch,  Dominick,  185 

Jr.,  148,  150 

Ludlow,  Robert,  306.  434 
Carey,  183,  335 
Catharine,  338 
"        Major-Gen.,  110 
"        Lieut.     Augustus     C., 

306  to  311,  313,  315,  318 
Luckey,  Robert,  441 

MACPHERSON,  Capt.  R.  H. ,  1,  99, 

100 
Macomb,     Alexander,    98,    108, 

112,  113,  141,  167,  168 
Macomb,  Robert,  92,  117,  223 
McLean,    Capt.  John,  171,  227, 

248 
McClure,  Francis,  86,  102,  118, 

119,  156,  434,  439 
McClure,  Gen.  George,  102 
John,  432  to  436 

McBride,  James,  30,  86,  349,  432 
Mclntyre,  William,  156 


McVeagh,  William,  228 

McNeice,  Rev.  John,  246 

McKesson,  John,  190 

McMurray,  Rev.  Dr.,  14 

McArthur,  Gen.,  366 

McCawley,  John,  446 

McComb,  Henry  H.,  434 

McCullen,  James,  444 

McKay,  ^Eneas,  443 

George  K.,  447 

McLeod,  Hugh,  435 

McKenna,  Charles,  92 

McManus,  John,  26 

McVickar,  30 

McClelland,  Ensign,  107 

McFarland,  Mr.,  164 
Helen,  338 

McLaughlin,  Edward,  27 
A.  J.,  183 

McCormick,  Hugh,  19 

McKnight,  261 

McCarlie,  Peter,  424 

McPherson,  Charles  A.  M.,  435 

Mesier,  Peter,  7,  148,  207,  220, 
223,  327,  361,  371,  423  to  426 

Morss,  John,  7,  423,  425 

Muir,  Capt.,  244 

Mount,  Major,  230,  231 

Masterson,  Capt.,  87 

Munson,  Capt.,  118 

Muhlenberg,  113 

Mercier,  Mr.,  156 

Marsh,  263 

Monroe,  James,  15 

Madison,  James,  15 

Miller,  Rev.  Samuel,  190 
"        Silvanus,  146 
Capt.,  87 

Minturn,  Benj,  G.,  131,  154,  348 

Montgomery,  Samuel,  26 

Magee,  James,  30 

Murray,  Lieut.  James  B.,  92 

Meigs,"  Gov. ,  251 

Moores,  Gen.  Benj.,  101 

Martin,  Thomas,  26 

Merry,  Thomas  H.,  216 

Meing,  Alex.,  155 

Moffat,  53,  157,  264 

Major,  Mr.,  30 

Morton,  Gen.  Jacob,  64,  86,  94, 
105,  110,  111,  112,  115,  118, 
135,  136,  139,  140,  145,  149, 
160,  186,  226,  244,  309,  310, 


INDEX. 


IX 


328,  329,  330,    331,  332,    334, 
335,  336,  337,    338,   340,   344, 
372,  373,  379,  423,  434 
Morton,  John,  335 

Washington,  335 
Walter,  350,  351 
Elizabeth,  335 
John  Ludlow,  338 
"        Geo.  William,  338 
"        Charles  Ferdinand,  338 
1 '        Catharine     Margaretta, 
338 
Morton,  Edmund,  338 

Hester  Sophia,  338 
"        Washington  F.  338 
Hamilton,  338 
Henry  Jackson,  338 
Marshall,  Samuel,  19 
Martling  &  Cozzens,  241,   340, 

366 

Morris,  James,  337 
"       H.,  267,  272 
"       Gouverneur,     43,      188, 

189,  256,  257 
Morrison,  John,  30,  349 
Meigs,  Henry,  27 
Mann,  Asa,  361,  424,  425 
Munson,  Reuben,  424 
May  ell,  Wm.,  239 
Majastre  &  Tardy,  349 
Merrihew,  Capt.    W.,  123 
Mooney,  William,  238 
Morris,  Mr.,  350 
Mollan  &Rankin,  349 
Munroe,  Peter  J.,  184 
Munson,  Reuben,  239 
Murphy,  Peter,  349 
Murray,  George  W. ,  348 
Myers,  Lawrence,  239 

"      Nathaniel,  436,  437 
Mitchell,    Dr.    Samuel    L.,    17, 

190,  223 

Myers,  Col.  Nathan,  86 
Montaudavert,  Mr.,  382 

Julia,  206,  313 
Moreau,  Gen.,  211 
Mercein,   Thomas  R.,  185,  330, 

448 
Maxwell,  Hugh,  231 

Wm.  H.,  230,  231 
"        George,  445 
Mapes,    Col.    Jonas,    101,    118, 


225,   229,    234,  340,  379,  424, 
425,  431,  433 
Mason,  Rev.   John  M.,  190,  256 

"       John, 348 
Mumford,  Gurdon  S.,  146,  148, 

150,  155,  184,  349 
Marston,  Capt.  435 
Mendenhall,  E.  S.,  445 
Merrifield,  John,  440 
Metcalf,  Elijah  H.,  437 
Mills,  Timothy,  435 
Miller,  Isaac,  445 
"      Joseph,  433 
"      John,  446 
"      Capt.  Z.,  123 
Montanya,  Joseph  De  La,  447 
Montross,  Jacob,  447 
Morgan,  Abijah,  433 
Henry,  437 
Muzzy,  Frederick,  433 

NAPOLEON,  82,  126,  188,  397 
Neilsou,  John,  495 

William  W.,  372 

William  &  Son,  183 
Nelson,  Capt.  Joseph,  114,  440 

R.  W.,  445 

Lord,  274,  275 
Noon,  Darby,  444 
Niblo,  William,  262 
Nicoll,  Edward  H..  374 

"  Capt.,  230,  231 
Nicholson,  Lieut.,  158 
Nixon,  Capt.  John,  334 

George,  436 
Norton,  Nathaniel,  23 
Norwood  &  Austin,  348 
Nestell,  Ann,  183 
Newson,  Capt.  Samuel,  123 
Nicoll,  348 

Nitchie,  John,     361,    424,   425, 
426 


ODELL,  Col.  Jacob,  90,  94,   107, 

202 

Odell,  Jackson,  433 
Ogden,    Capt.  B.  S.,  97,  106 
"         Gov.  Aaron,  140 
"        Jonathan,  183 
David  B.,  372 
"        Andrew,  19 
Oldmixon,  Mrs.,  364 


INDEX. 


Oliver,    Capt.    Robert    Dudley, 

296,  306,  396,  393 
Oliver,  W.  G.,  445 
Otis,  Joseph,  20 
Osborn,  Ithamer,  239 

PAULDING,  Adjt.-Gen.Wm.,  104, 

107,  115,   136,   139,   223,   363, 

431,    436,  437,  439 
Post,  Dr.  Jotham,  223,  336,  409 

"     Henry,  27 
Penny,     Joshua,  283,    284,  285, 

393 

Pintard,  John,  190 
Pierce,  John,  63 
Piercy,  Capt.,  118 
Pike,   Gen.,  251,  252,  268,  270 
Porter,    Com.     David,    3,    8,   9, 

133 

Platt,  Col.,  331 
Proctor,  Gen.,  360 
Percival,    Sailing   Master,     266, 

382 
Perry,  Com.  Oliver  H.,126,  261, 

317,    318,  319,   320,  322,    323, 

363,    366,   368,    371,    374,  376, 

378,  380 
Pierson,  Capt.  Silas,  114,  441 

"       Mr.,  339 
Pearce,  Earl  de,  351 
Peterson,  Wm,,  239 
Phelps,  Thaddeus,  348 

Stephen,  435 
Post  &  Minturn,  348 
Prall,  J..  349 
Prime,  Nathaniel,  183 
Palmer,  James,  361 
Pell,  John,  423 

"    Major  G.,  434 
Percy,  Isaac,  448 
Perlee,  Edmund  G.,  446 
Perren,  William,  448 
Perrin,  John,  Jr.,  202 
Perrine,  Henry,  434 
Peters,  John,  447 
Power,  Nicholas,  Jr.,  441 
Price,   Midshipman    Wm.,  267, 

271 

Price,  Stephen,  434 
Powers,  Capt.,  119 

"        Lawrence,  434 
Pritchard,  269 
Pendleton,  Nathaniel,  23,  261 


Platt,  Richard,  23 
Popharn,  William,  23 
Pray,  John,  22 
Prior,  Elisha,  442 
Purdy,  Smith,  434 

QUACKENBOS,  Mangle  M.,  444 

RAPALJE,  J.  A.,  448 

Stephen,  447 
Reynolds,  Allen,  448 

Thomas  A.,  435 
Rigail,  Lawrence,  445 
Robinson,  J.  J.,  444 
Rockwell,  Edward,  438,  449 
Roe,  Silvester,  441 
Rogers,  John  A.,  442 
Ronalds,  James,  Jr.,  435 
Ray,  Cornelius,  31,  184 
Raymond,  George  B.,  26 
Radcliff,  Jacob,  131,  132,  373 

S.  W.,  444 

Rapelye,  George  B.,  373 
Rathbone,  John  &  Son,  348 

John.  Jr.,  351,  374 
Riker,  Richard,  55 
James,  333 
Tunis.  433,  445 
John  L.,  432 
Capt.  Andrews,  123 
Abraham  &  Co.,  349 
Riley,  Isaac.  140 
Robertson,  James,  363 
Gilbert.  30 
Rodman,    John,    246,    249,  253, 

339 
Romaine,  Benj.,  315 

Samuel,  B.,  444 
Roberts,  Robert,  19 
Rodgers,   Com.   John,   3,   4,   6, 

128,  155,  270 
Rodgers,  John  R.  B.,  23 
Rogers,  Sailing  Master,  382 

Jedediah,23,  261 
Rose,    Gen.  Abraham,    87,   114, 

117,  432,  442 
Ross,  Robert,  448 

"    Theodore,  102,  438 
"     William  M.,  443 
Rutgers,  Col.  Henry,  10,  14,  365, 

369,  370 

Rutherford,  John,  43 
Ruden,  Alexander,  19 


INDEX. 


XI 


Rich,  Stephen  A.,  20,  436 

"     Thomas,  20 

"     Thomas  S.,  436 
Robinson,  Wm.  J.,  20 
Reed,  John,  Jr.,  23 
Randolph,  Jeremiah  F.,  350 
Rankin,  349 
Rogers,  Moses.  183 
Romayn,  Dr.  N.,  183 
Roulet,  Jonas,  348 

S.,  184 

Rowland,  Capt.  Jonathan,  123 
Russ,  John,  350 
Russell,  Robert,  M.,434 
Samuel,  443 

SAGAR,  J,,  340 
Sage,  Ebenezer,  223,  409 
Sanford,  Nathan,  49,  55 
Schermerhorn,  Peter,  30,  184 
Isaac,  20 
Cornelius,  184 
J.  S.,  184 
J.  M.,  444 
Cornelius,  Jr.  ,434 
Scott,  Gen.  Wiufield,  69 
Sebring,    Isaac,   131,     132,    148, 

150,  184,  372,  373 
Scudder,  John,  Jr.,  139,  279 
Sibbald,  Capt.  Alex.,  337,  435 

Mrs.,  336 
Simonds,    Col.   Jonas,  167,  168, 

339 
Sickles,  JohnF.,  234,  434 

G-arrett,  239 
Sclmler,  Nat.,  122 
Simpson,  363 
Sherman,    Capt.    Alpheus,    339, 

444 

Schenck,  Peter,  H.,  349 
Senchich,  Nicolo,  350 
Shaler,  Capt.  Nat.,  123    \ 
Sharpe,  John,  J85 
Sherman,  Alpheus,  288 
Shute,  John,  350 
Skinner,  Capt.  Joseph,  123 
Southmeade,  Capt.,  123 
Sands,  Daniel,  440 
Schoonrnaker,  Z.,  446,  447 
Scott,  Daniel  L.,  448 

"  John  R.,  444 
Sharp.  George,  436 
Sherwood,  Thomas,  447 


Simonson,  John,  431 
Sims,  John  H.,  445 
Slee,  Samuel,  436 
Sleight,  Cornelius,  442 
Saltus,  Francis,  434,  435,  437 
Satterlee,  John  R.,  436 
Seaman,  John,  434 

William,  445 
Capt.  Gilbert,  118,  444 
Shaw,  Thomas,  435 
Spicer,  John  B.,  434 
Stockton,  445 
Seixas,  Capt.,  230,  231 
Spies,  A.  W.,  37 
Sitcher,   Col.   Andrew,  86,  136, 
139,   140,   168,   172,   213,  434, 
435,  437 

Slidell,  John,  19,  148,  150,  155 
Sproull,  Capt.  John,  98,  100 
Schuyler,  Col.  P.  P.,    98,  100 
Snowden,  Capt,  J.,  100,  443 
Smith,  Capt.,  3 

Arthur,  64 

Senator  John,  17,  21,236 
Thomas  R.,  186,  319,  320, 
361 ,  424  to  426 
Smith,  Thomas  H.,  30.  349 
Abraham,  19,  433 
Mr.,  349,  350 
Edmund,  185 
Gamaliel,  349 
&  Nicoll,  348 
Jeremiah,  445 
Jonathan  B.,  444 
William,  444 
Thomas  H.,  Jr.,  20 
Gen.  T.  W.,  365,  369,  379, 
443 

Smyth,  Gen.,  119 
Slosson,  E.,  20 
Storms,  Thomas,  20 
Storm,  Garrit,  20,  349 

"       Stephen,  439 
Stilwell,  Samuel,  20 
Stanton,  George  W.,  438 
"        N.,  449 
Steele,  John  W.,  Jr.,  444 

"      Levi,  441 
Stevenson,  John  B.,  433 
"          Thomas,  435 
Stocking,  Jared,  440 
Stagg,  Abraham,  315,  339,  374 
"      Peter,  19,  339,  349 


Xll 


INDEX. 


Stagg,  Thomas,  349 
Stanley,  Mrs.,  363,  371 
"      Miss,  268      * 
Steddiford,  Gen.  Gerard,  23,  85, 

94,  101,225,226,  261,335,431, 

432 

Stewart,  Charles,  30,  373 
Sterling,  James  &  William,  30 
Stoughton,  Don  Thomas,  393 
Stryker,   Capt.   Burdett,  86,  87, 

102,  103,  118 
Strong,  Joseph,  19,  30 

"      Major,  225,  229 
"       Selah,  438 

Stevens,  Gen.  Ebenezer,    6,   23, 
29,  55,  61,   90   102,    105,   106, 
155,  226,    229,   230,  261,    326, 
327,  335,  336,  340,  372,  373,  437 
Stevens,  R.  L.,  79 
Sullivan,  David,  30 
Suffern,  Thomas,  30 
Sully,  149 
Stewart,  James,  23 
Stocking,  Capt.,  114 
Stephens,  John,  184,  434 
Stillwell,  Samuel,  350 
Storey,  Capt.  T.  W.,  123 

"      William,  123 
Strachan,  Mr.,  261 
Suydam,  Ferdinand,  185 

J.,  184 

Suffern,  John  S.,  446 
Sutherland,  Solomon,  445 
Swain,  Capt.    William,  338,  435 
Swartwout,   Col.  John,  339,  365, 

369 
Swartwout,     Col.     Robert,     95, 

103,  109,   116,    135,    140,  156, 
168,  170,  185,    435,    436,   440, 
441 

Swartwout,  Col.  Samuel,  171 

Cornelius,  23 

Swift,  Gen.  Joseph  G.,  108,  112, 
178,  186,  209,  213,  220,  442 

TABALEE,  John,  445 
Tallcott,  George,  Jr.,  438,  443 
Tallmadge,  W.  S.,  446 
Teller,  Henry  R.,  437 
Tillotson,  John  C.,  443 
Ten  Broeck,  441 
Ten  Brook,  433 
Thornton,  Samuel,  439 


Timpson,  John,  438,  449 

Town,  Thomas,  444 

Tysen,  John,  Jr.,  434 

Taitus  &  Avery,  350 

Tardy,  349 

Taulman,  261 

Tate,  Capt.  Joseph,  119,  432,  434 

Teterel  &  Williams,  349 

Thompson,  James,  349 

Thompson  &  Edgar,  349 
"  Jonathan,  30 

Tooker,  Samuel,  348 

Tylee,  Daniel  E.,  425 

Titus,  Michael  M.,  423 

Tucker,  Gideon,  424,  425,  426 
Capt.,  230,  231 

Taylor,  Mrs.,  184 
John,  252 
Col.,  21 
David,  20 

Ten  Eyke,  Midshipman,  295,  296 

Terry,  Justice,  286,  287 

Tecumseh,  360 

Thorn,  Col.  Stephen,  101,  435, 
437 

Thorn,  William,  432 

Thome,  Jonathan,  30 

Todd,  Major,  230,  231 
"      James  W.,  238 

Totten,  Lieut.  Joseph  G.,  69 
Joseph  W.,  19 

Townley,  David,  26 

Townsend,  James,  370 
John  R.,  20 

Treadwell,  30 

Tompkins,  Gov.  D.  D.,  88,  91, 
93,  94,  97,  104,  105,  114,  135, 
136,  138,  139,  172,  178,  190, 
223,  224,252,  336,  359,  363,  364, 
365,  369,  370,  372,  373 

Tiebout,  Henry,  23,  261 

Torrey,  William,  23,  261 
"        Josiah,  447 

Troup,  Robert,  23,  261 

Trumbull,  John,  23 

UNDERHILL,  Anthony  L .,  425 
B.  T.,  350,  432 

VAN  ARSDALE,  John,  333 

Van  Beuren,  Col.  Beekman  M., 

101,  107. 118, 140,  226,  431,  432, 

433,  439 


INDEX. 


Xlll 


Van  Dyke,  John,  23 

Van  Hook,  Col.  Isaac  A.,    225, 

229,  230,  231,  431 
Van  Rensselaer,  Gen.,   90,    107, 

270 
Van  Pelt,    Rev.    Peter   J.,    367, 

440,  443 
Van  Slyck,  27 
Van  Wyck,  Pierre  C.,  155,  207, 

422 

Van  Wyck,  Samuel,  27 
Van  Wart,  Isaac,  255 
Van  Zandt,  Gen.  P.  P.,  85,  94, 

101,  109,  225,  431 

Van  Cortlandt,  Phillip,    22,  433 

Pierre,  Jr.,  432 
Van  Valkenburgh,  John,  441 
Van  Horn  &  Morris,  350 
Van  Ness,    Wm.  P.,   125,   351, 

372 

Van  Nest,  Mrs.,  184 
Vandevoort,  W.  &  L.,  348 
Varian,  G.  W.,  433,  441 

"      Jonathan,  432 
Vanderbilt,    John,  Jr.,  145,  161, 

424 
Vanderbilt,  Jeremiah,  244,  438, 

439,  449 

Vande venter,  Christopher,  100 
Varick,  Richard,  23,  61, 131, 146, 

152,  154,  261 
Varick,  Theodore  N.   W.,   433, 

434 

Verplanck,  Guilian  C.,  190 
Vroom,  G.  B.,  352 

WATERMAN,  Jedediah,  *24 
Warner,  Major   James,   86,    94, 

102,  115,   117,  118,   202,  244, 
310,  338,  438 

Ward,    Col.    Jasper,    168,    226, 

431 

Walker,  Capt.  Hugh,    119,  434 
"      Adam,  119,  434 
Calvin,  114,  440 

Waldron,  Wm.  J.,  332,  361,  423 
Waite,  G.  &  R.,  269 
Warren,  Admiral  Sir  John  Bor- 

lase,  166,  274,  276,  393 
Warren,  Daniel,  433 
Washburn,  272 
Watson,  James,  61 
Watts,  Robert  T.,  96 


Waring,  Thomas,  27 
Waldron,  W.  J.,  238 
Walsh  &  Gallagher,  348 
Waterman,  Jedediah,  24,  261 
Watson,  261 

"       Mrs.,  183 
Watts,  John,  183 
Watkius,  Samuel,  350 
Wads  worth,  J.  D.,  446 
Walworth,  Henry,  434 
Walsh,  John  H.,  441 
Wallace,  James  D. ,  444 
Walsh,  William,  448 
Waterbury,  Isaac,  433 
Watkins,  Abel,  437 
Webb,  John,  Jr., 445 
Weed,  ErastusH.,  448 

Stephen,  433 
Werden,  EliasC.,  440 
West,  George,  445 
Wells,  John,  337 
Welling,  Thomas,  287 
Wendover,    Peter  H.,    145,  150, 

360,  361,  365,  423,  424,  425 
Westervelt,  H.,  242 
Whaley,  Alex.,  262 
Wheaton,  Henry,  214 
White,  John,  240 
Whitney,  Capt.  Richard,  64 

Stephen,  148,  150, 185, 
348 
Wickham,    Col.  George  D.,  90, 

102,  438 

Wickham,  Isaac,  432 
Willett,  Col.  Marinus,  10,  14,  24 
Williams,  Col.  Jonathan,  63,  64, 

66,  73,  100,  108,  327,  328 
Williams,  James,  440 

John,  441 

Wheeler,  Epenitus,  447 
White,  Henry,  438,  447 
"      James,  433 
"      Eve,  184 
Wigton,  Capt.,  114 
Wilkie,  James,  449 
Willis,  Walter,  438 
Willson,  A.,D.,  447 
Wilson,  George,  7,  423 

Capt.  George,  230,  231 
"     John  86,  114,  447 
'        James,  441 

"      R.,  351 
Peter,  Jr.,  434 


XIV  INDEX. 


Weeks,  James,  350  Wolcott,    Oliver,   131,  132,  146, 

Weston,  Abijah,  185  148,  154,  347 

Wbalen,  M.,  184  Wolcott,  Alex..  443 

Wildman,  F.,  350  Wood,    W.,  27 

Wright  &  Allen,  348  Woodruff,  Capt.  S.,  231,  432,  439 

Job,  446  Wright,  Augustus,  374,  378 

Wisbart,  Daniel,  445  Wyckoff,  Henry  T.,  131,  335 
Wood,  Benjamin,  447  A.  G.,  148 

Woodward,  John,  435  Wynkoop,  Augustus,  20 
Woolsey,  Francis  N.,  435 

Wolfe,  Christian,  449  YATES,  Mr.,  269 

Wintbrop,  Wm.,  289  Youngs,  Daniel,  423 


INDEX  TO  TOPICS. 

(TEMPORARY.) 

PAGE 

ALARM  in  the  city 173,  220,  324 

Aldermen  and  assistants  of  the  city 363,  423-425 

Aliens  in  the  city ..  29,418,419 

Amusements  of  the  day 51,  52 

Announcement  of  the  war 1,  2,  3 

Appointment  of  militia  officers 90,  93 

in  volunteers 169 

Arsenals  and  forts 60-76 

Artillery,  veteran  corps  of 21,  22,  171 

target  practice 110-113,  329-331 

Auctions 31 

BANKS  in  New  York  City 353 

capital  of 353 

Bainbridge,  presentation  to 371 

Battery  Park,  residences  around 182-185 

Blockades 218,  219,  274,  387,  391,  395 

law  of 395-398 

why  not  more  strict 387,  388,  391 

more  vigorous  ordered 391-393 

general  effect  of 394-396 

Bloomfield,  Gen.,  in  command 1 

sketch  of 2 

Biographical  sketch  of — 

Jacob  Barker 20,  21,  347,  348,  352 

Dr.  John  Bullus 379 

Gen.  Dearborn 324 

Com.  Hardy 274 

Lieut.-Col.  Francis  McClure 118,  119 

Gen.  Wm.  Paulding 104 

Gen.  Jacob  Morton 335 

Col.  Henry  Rutgers 14 

Gen.  George  Izard 181 

Gen.  Ebenezer  Stevens 105 

Gen.  Bloomfield 2 

Brevet,  appointments  by 91,  103 

British  fleet  in  the  Chesapeake 303,  395 

licenses  to  American  vessels,  see  "license." 

minister  and  a  vessel  sail. 26 

seamen,  number  of 188 

subjects  ordered  to  register 25 

war  vessels,  men  on • 81,  188 

guns  on 386 


XVI  INDEX  TO  TOPICS 


PAGE 

British  war  vessels  on  our  coast 277,  386 

navy,  strength  of 188,  277,  886 

Brooklyn,  size  of,  in  1812 56 

military  companies 86 

CANADA,  conquest  of 118,  119,  368 

Cannon,  size  of , 75 

Capture,  arrival  of  first 160 

of  American  vessels 412 

Census  of  New  York  City 29,  417-419 

Christmas  day  observances 54,  148 

Churches,  location  of 429-431 

Cincinnati,  society  of  The .22-24,  208,  261 

City,  condition  of  its  inhabitants 29-59,  418,  419 

extent  of 36,  37 

election  in  1813 363 

government,  names,  etc 422-425 

ordinance  against  drums  and  fifes 24,  25 

guns  and  pistols 214 

City  Hall,  illumination  of , 320 

Clay,  Henry,  on  the  war 164 

Clinton  re-appointed  mayor 204,  422 

Clothing,  allowance  of 193 

cost  of 193 

Coasting  trade  of  Long  Island 298 

New  Jersey 400 

laws  relating  to , 498-502 

Colored  persons  in  New  York  City 418,  419 

free          "  "  "    418,419 

slave         "  "  "     418,419 

Commerce  and  manufactures 29-33 

Common  council  notice  the  war 6,7 

petitions  congress 220-222 

names  of  members 422-425 

election  in  1813 363 

Congress,  memorials  to,  from  New  York 17,  220-222,  384 

Court  martial  of  Capt.  Hawley 230-234 

U.  S.  District,  extent  of. " 125 

DANCING,  style  of 53,  54 

Deaths  in  New  York  City,  1810-1816 420-422 

causes  of 420-422 

Defence,  committee  of,  first  report 7 

names  of  committees  of .425-426 

Democratic  general  committee 15 

Democrats  in  favor  of  war 15,  362 

dinner  on  Evacuation  Day,  1813 339 

to  Gen.  Harrison 365-370 

to  Com.  Perry 374-380 

Dinner,  military,  of  third  regiment 136-139 

naval 150-156 

to  Capt.  Hull's  crew 160-164 


INDEX  TO  TOPICS.  xvii 


PAGE 

Dinner  to  Capt.  Lawrence  and  crew 208 

to  Gen.  Harrison 365-370 

to  Com.  Perry 374-380 

to  Com.  Bainbridge 372-373 

by  democrats  at  Tammany 339 

of  veteran  corps  of  artillery 135 

Directory,  names  in,  1808-1817 420 

Drafting  the  militia .' 95-97 

Dress  of  the  people _ 49,50 

Drinking  habits  of  the  people  44,  45 

Dutchess  county  militia 90,  436 

Dwellings,  number  and  kinds  of . , , .         37 

EMBARGO,  petition  for 17  21 

of  April,  1812 16,  17 

recommended  in  1813 407 

enacted,  terms  of 409-413 

effect  of,  on  New  York 414 

Evacuation  Day  in  1812 135-140 

in  1813 332-341 

FAST  day  observed 296,  297 

Federalists  oppose  the  war  15,  24,  132,  362,  389 

procession 253-256 

dinner  on  4th  July 258-260 

on  Evacuation  day 339 

to  Com.  Bainbridge 372,  373 

Feriies  in  1812-1815. 57-59 

Ferry  boats,  horse 57-59 

steam 57-59 

Flag  of  United  States  in  1812 4 

Fire  limits  for  buildings 38 

companies  in  the  city 85 

Fires,  number  of,  in  the  city 39 

Financial  condition  of  the  nation 345 

first  war  loan 346 

issue  of  treasury  notes 347 

second  war  loan 347 

loans  by  individuals 348,  350 

another  issue  of  treasury  notes 357 

third  war  loan 352 

Fortifications  of  the  city  and  harbor 60-83 

state  board  of 64,  186 

around  battery  park 182,  186 

built  in  1812  and  1813 175-182,   186,219 

Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  1813 237-272 

Freeholders  in  the  city 29,  418,  419 

Freedom  of  the  city,  rights  under 128-131 

ceremony  of  admission 128,  371 

Freeman,  rights  of 128-131 

number  of ..  418 


XVlll  INDEX  TO  TOPICS. 


PAGE 

Free  trade  and  sailors'  rights 9,  389 

Funeral  of  Capt.  Lawrence 206-210 

Lord  Nelson 274 

of  an  enemy 272 

GOVERNOR  of  New  York,  power  of 91-94,  103 

military  dress  of 91 

report  of  militia,  etc 172 

Government  securities,  prices  of  351,  352 

Grand  jury,  mayor's  charge  to 25 

Gunboats  to  defend  the  harbor . . 132 

maintained  by  the  city 174 

skirmish  near  the  city 300 

HARSEN'S  officers  donate  their  pay 142 

Historical  society,  officers  of 189 

address  before 189 

Hoboken,  size  of,  in  1812 57 

Hotels 50 

Holiday  observances 52 

Householders  in  New  York  City 418,  419 

Houses  in  New  York  City 33,  37-39 

Hussars  organize 171 

ILLUMINATION   of  public  buildings 320 

Insurance  companies  in  New  York  City 353 

Intemperate  habits  of  the  people. 44 

Intercourse  with  the  enemy 293-295,  408 

Iron  Greys  organize 171 

Izard,  Gen. ,  sketch  of 181 

JERSEY  Blues  in  service 173,  179 

City,  size  of,  in  1812 57 

KINGS  County  militia 86,  431 

LAW  of  nations 9,  83,  396-400 

Lawrence,  Capt.  James,  funeral  of 304-316 

Lewis,  Com.,  in  command  of  New  York  harbor 132 

License  of  American  vessels  to  trade 83,  120,  219,  277 

prohibited 388 

Long  Branch,  skirmish  at 382 

Long  Island  and  the  enemy 288 

Sound,  enemy  in , 325 

blockaded  by  order 393 

MADISON,  election  of  187 

Mail  deliveries  in  New  York  in  1812 34,  35 

Manhattan  company  supply  water 48 

location  of 48,  427 

value  of  stock  of 122 

take  U.  S.  treasury  notes 347 


INDEX  TO  TOPICS.  XIX 


PAGE 

Marine  corps  organize 172 

Markets,  location  of 428 

McClure,  Francis,  sketch  of 118, 119 

Mechanics  Bank  takes  U.  S.  treasury  notes 347 

Military  attend  a  church 108 

forces  of  the  city 84-88 

means  of  defence 78,  79 

headquarters  in  the  city 104 

orders  by  the  governor 105-109 

organization  of 191 

districts 190 

dinner  on  Evacuation  Day 136,  340 

Militia  officers,  appointment  of 90-93 

by  brevet 91-103 

arrive  from  up  the  Hudson 114,  115 

discharge  of,  in  1812 140 

when  subject  to  rules  of  war 199 

court  martials  of 199 

ordered  out  by  the  governor 224 

reviewed 229 

Music  at  military  dinner 136-140,  341 

of  the  day 157,  158 

NAPOLEON  and  England  in  1812 82 

in  1813... 188 

Nations,  law  of 9,  83,  396-400 

Naval  squadron  sails  from  New  York 3-6 

ball  given 158,  159 

victories  during  1812 133 

Navy,  first  victory  of 127-132 

British,  strength  of 188,  277,  386 

Neutral  trade  by  license 83 

New  Jersey  militia 110,  117,  134,  141,  142,  213,  214,  343 

New  Jersey  and  the  war 173,  343,  402 

New  York  City  government  expenses 354-356 

in  Congress 17,  223 

harbor,  troops  defending 342 

Morris'  warning  to 189 

New  Year's  celebration  in  1813 159 

Newspapers,  daily,  iu  New  York.    406 

Non-intercourse  law 17,  121,  389,  390 

OCCUPATIONS  in  the  city 29-33 

Officers,  roster  of  military 431-449 

how  assigned  to  duty 97-103 

Orange  County  militia 90 

Orders  in  Council 21 

PARK,  public  buildings  in  the 39,40 

war  meeting  in 10 

Pay,  etc.,  of  militia  and  army 88,  89,  167,  170,  173,  194 

Peace  officer  appointed  in  the  city 26 


XX  INDEX  TO   TOPICS. 


PAGE 

Perry's  victory,  celebration 317-323 

Political  parties  in  New  York  City 15,363 

Population  of  the  city 417-420 

Brooklyn 56 

Jersey  City 57 

Hoboken 57 

Porter,  Capt.,  and  the  Essex 8 

flag  of 9 

makes  first  capture 133 

Post  Office,  local  service  in  1812 34,  35 

Presidential  campaign  of  1812 ...         28 

Powle's  Hook,  see   Jersey  City 57,  176 

President's  message  in  1813 405-407 

Privateers  from  New  York 121-124,  383,  393 

in  French  ports 126 

fast  sailing 123 

and  bounties  to 121,  279,  385 

Congress  asked  to  aid 384-386 

Prize  court  at  New  York 125 

cases,  commissioners  in 125 

procedure  in 384 

British 398 

Public  buildings,  location  of 426-431 

Putnam  County  militia 90 

QUEENS  County  militia 86,  431 

REVENUE  of  New  York  City 355 

Ransom  of  captures 381,  407 

Rations  prescribed _ 88 

Regulations  for  army 202 

Resolutions  adopted  at  war  meeting 10-15 

Revolutionary  veterans  and  the  war 21 

Riots,  regulations  in  case  of 24-27 

feared 26,  27 

Roads  in  the  city 55 

Rockland  County  militia 90 

Rutgers,  Col.  Henry,  sketch  of 14 

Rye  Neck,  enemy  near 298 

SAILORS,  estimation  of,  by  the  nation , 164 

at  a  dinner 160,  161 

Sag  Harbor  attacked 292 

Sandy  Hook,  bar  at 81 

new  forts  at  179,  180 

letter  from 179 

forces  at 213,  344 

review  at 297,  325 

enemy  near 332 

blockade  at 381 

Schools,  free,  location  of 428 

Sea  Fencibles  organize 173,  174 


INDEX  TO  TOPICS.  XXI 


PAGE 

Seamen  on  American  vessels 399,  400 

uniform  of 160 

Sham  fight  by  militia 230 

Shipping  laws,  national 399,  400,  410-412 

Shipmasters'  meeting 215 

Shipbuilders  of  New  York  City 125,  126 

Shipbuilding  in  New  York 317 

Slaves  in  New  York 29,  418,  419 

Smuggling 401,  402 

Spermaceti  Cove,  blockhouse  at 301 

Staten  Island  militia 84 

forces  on 116,  213 

fortifications  on 73,  177,  219 

Steamboats  at  New  York 212 

Stevens,  Gen.,  sketch  of , 105 

Stocks,  prices  of 352,  353 

Streets  of  New  York 36,  37 

Suburbs  of  New  York 55-59 

Suffolk  County  militia ! 87,  291,  441 

TAMMANY  HALL  building 15 

war  meeting  at 24,  25 

troubles 237-248 

procession 247 

dinner 250-252 

Taxation  in  New  York  City 354,  355 

by  stamps 357,  358 

Tax,  a  direct,  laid 354 

internal  revenue,  laid ....    356-358 

Target  practice  by  artillery 110-113 

Telegraph  line  erected 77 

Tompkins,  Gov.,  and  Gen.  Harrison 363-365 

Torpedo  warfare 221,  278,  279,  283,  287 

Torpedoes  at  the  Narrows 221 

Theatres  and  halls,  location  of 427,  428 

Theatre,  Corn.  Bainbridge  at 373 

Gen.  Harrison  at 364,  365,  371 

sailors  at 162,  209 

usual  performances 51,  52 

Trapping  the  enemy 265,  266 

ULSTER  County  militia 90 

Uniform  of  some  militia  companies'. 102,  103 

prescribed  for  the  regular  army 195,  202 

of  sailors 160 

VAUXHALL  Garden  fireworks 269-271 

Veterans  of  the  revolution  in  arms 22 

Veteran  corps  of  artillery 171 

celebrate  Fourth  of  July 248 

Evacuation  day 333 

Volunteers  in  the  city 109,  168 


XX11  INDEX  TO  TOPICS. 


PAGE 

Volunteers  from  Hudson  river  counties 170 

Victory,  first  naval 127,  133 

Voters  in  New  York  City 130-419 

qualification  of 130 

WAK,  announcement  of 1,  2 

War,  issues  of  the .' 9 

War  meeting  in  the  City  Hall  park 10-15 

Warning  to  New  York 189 

Washington  Benevolent  Society,  officers  of 373 

Water  supply  in  1812 48,  49 

Westchester  County  military  forces 87 

Williamsburgb,  size  of,  in  1812 58 


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